Former fitness-phobe Alice Ball takes a look at why Sport England wants to get women of all ages moving with the This Girl Can campaign, and speaks to some women who did
Throughout my teenage years, I saw exercise as a chore or something only naturally athletic people could enjoy, and I avoided any activity that involved getting remotely sweaty. Nowadays, I’m the gym bunny amongst my friends; I own more active wear than regular clothes and gain satisfaction from getting a sweat on. Yet many women admit to avoiding exercise. Before it launched its This Girl Can campaign in 2015, Sport England found that two million fewer females aged 14-40 played regular sport, compared to men, despite 75 per cent admitting that they wanted to be more active. 1 This Girl Can aimed to change all that.
You may have seen the adverts: women of all ages and abilities sweating and jiggling during sport, with no idealised, stylised images of traditional sporting figures. And this was the campaign’s goal, to help women overcome their main concern about exercise: fear of judgement of their shape, weight and sporting ability.
But it was about more than overcoming a fear of lycra and perspiration. This Girl Can aims to prevent many of the health concerns related to physical inactivity, including type 2 diabetes, breast and colon cancer, and cardiovascular disease — the leading cause of death from inactivity.
Whilst obesity has doubled in the UK over the past 30 years, it is higher amongst women than men. Being overweight and inactive significantly increases the likelihood of developing other conditions, which is why women are being specifically targeted. So it’s not so much about us losing weight and looking good; it’s about living healthily for longer.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Summer Of
Summer is when we want to be out and about, as the warm embrace of the sofa on a cold winter’s night becomes a distant memory. So where do you go when the brain is willing but the body just can’t cut it at the same level of performance that it managed decades ago? Graeme Wilcockson reviews a few ways to satisfy those competitive weekend instincts that will tax both mind and body — yet leave you able to move on Monday morning
Common Kitchen Practices Making Us Sick
Every year, thousands of us fall sick from food poisoning because of how we have handled food. Louise Scodie and Louise Wates look at common ways in which we are going wrong
Could Antioxidants Save Our Bacan?
Nitrates and nitrites have long been linked to cancer. We look at how they are part of a chain reaction that may not always be harmful to human health... So what’s the case with bacon?
Eat For A Glow That Is More Than Skin Deep
Now that summer is here, it’s time to peel off the layers and make some vitamin D. But if your skin isn’t as peachy as you would like, or if you are worried about staying safe in the sun, find out how good nutrition may support your skin’s health. Maggie Charlesworth writes
Natural Beauty
If headlines about microbeads from cosmetics polluting our seas have got you wondering how you can do your bit for the environment, try using nature’s harvest to feed your skin. Hannah Maryse Robinson writes
A Summer Selection Of Goods And Goodies
Lazy Vegan frozen Chunky Pulled Peaz is a gluten-free, plant-based protein source suitable for vegans and — with a substantial texture — flexitarians.
Do Something Different
As many of us are concerned about keeping our brains active, Ellie Smith investigates whether trying something completely new could boost both our brain health and mental wellbeing
Lifting Weights, Lifting Confidence
When Bianca Mills was bullied at school she could not have dreamt that she would be able to speak in front of a group of women, let alone coach them in lifting free weights. She told Louise Wates why she believes buddying-up is just as important as physical strength for fostering confidence
Teaching Children How To Forage
Catherine Morgan finds out how foraging can teach children (and adults) about more than nature’s store cupboard, and can foster an understanding of and respect for the environment.
Keep Calm And Curry On
In August, India celebrates the anniversary of Indian Independence, yet the Anglo-Indian community, a legacy of the British Raj with its roots in European and Indian ancestry, still treads the cultural line between both communities. Jenny Mallin, author of A Grandmother’s Legacy, tells us about the fusion food in her family and recipes passed down through the generations
