Sedentary behaviour

Humans beings have survived thus far because we have managed to acquire at least as much energy as we have used up. Our survival has depended on both sides of the energy coin: i) acquiring energy; and ii) conserving energy. If we were good at only one of these, we would have died out long ago. We are hard-wired to find food and to minimise energy expenditure i.e. to eat more and do less.

Wind forward to August 2017 and there were two stories in the UK news about sedentary behaviour. The stories could equally apply to any developed nation. Story one was about an initiative that had come from the National Health Service (NHS) in England and story two was about an initiative that had come from Public Health England (PHE). I did wonder if the two stories were planned, or if the timing were coincidental. I suspect the latter. NHS England is the operational part of English healthcare. The NHS is responsible for commissioning the contracts for medical personnel and services. Public Health England can be seen as the prevention arm of medical care. PHE exists “to protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities.” Both bodies come under the government’s Department of Health.

 

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