Many of these urgent physical health challenges, including obesity and coronary heart
disease, are also connected to sedentary and indoor lifestyles (CDC 1996; DCMS 2002; DoH
2004). Physically active people have lower risk of dying from coronary heart disease, type II
diabetes, hypertension and colon cancer. Activity also enhances mental health, fosters healthy
muscles and bones, and helps maintain health and independence in older adults
(Paffenbarger et al. 1994; Scully et al. 1999; Pretty et al. 2004). The recent UK Chief
Medical Officer’s report (DoH 2004) indicated that: ‘physical activity helps people feel better,
as reflected in improved mood and decreased state and trait anxiety. It helps people feel better
about themselves through improved physical self-perceptions, improved self-esteem,
decreased physiological reactions to stress, [and] improved sleep’.