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The maths of weight management is a simple 'energy in - energy out' equation. It is also true that managing the energy content of food is the easiest and most immediately effective method of managing weight loss. But not the only one.
Exercise (energy out) is too readily dismissed as ineffective, more effort than it is worth, or the poor cousin of dietary control.
Regular exercise is important for fitness and wellbeing, circulation and injury healing, mental health, sleep quality, appetite, digestion and bowel function, among other benefits.
But if we focus on primarily on weight loss (or weight control) and energy consumption, it is not just the energy burned during activity that gets us on the right side of the weight management equation. Our metabolism (the energy cost of keeping our body going) burns a large proportion of our energy output. Greater levels of muscle mass require extra energy to maintain, raising our metabolism. Equally, long duration, low intensity exercise (like going for a long walk) elevates our metabolism over a longer time frame and can in effect burn more energy than a game of touch football or sporadic treks to the gym.
So what?
What does that mean for public policy?
It is in society's best interests to reduce the numbers of overweight, obese and morbidly obese for reasons of cost to the health system, as well as in the interests of increasing longevity and quality of life for individuals.
The role of government in this should be to lower barriers to activity for all, but especially for those most at risk, people from low SES backgrounds. By understanding what makes people more physically active, governments can greatly influence behaviour. Proven strategies include: community design, neighbourhood walkability, public transport, walking and cycling facilities, park based exercise circuits, measures to improve pedestrian safety, and improving access to the natural environment (through national parks and green spaces in cities).
In contrast, there is no evidence that the funding of elite sport or hosting international sporting events has any flow on effects to greater levels of community participation in specific sports, or to sport or physical activity in general. Governments do benefit when national sporting team win championships, when they host high profile sporting events, or when individuals win medals, and it does improve their chances of re-election. While the relationship between General Franco and the Real Madrid football club is a more extreme example, Bob Hawke's appearance at the America's Cup winning party in a very ugly jacket, and John Howard's regular appearance at Cricket and Football games, along with his regular walks in Green and Gold tracksuits (in spite of his famous lack of basic sporting prowess... who could forget that ball he bowled in Pakistan) were not purely about fandom.
If Governments want to appeal to popularism, they shouldn't hide behind claims of broader public benefit.
And if they want to contribute to community wellbeing, it is time to shift the priorities in their budgets back towards enabling higher activity levels for us all, but especially for those who can't afford a gym membership or a personal trainer. We need more public facilities like Tennis courts, public pools, end of trip facilities for pedestrians and cycle commuters, and even publicly run gyms where the fees are very affordable or even subsidised for at risk groups.
If public activity and participation outcomes are the real goal there is plenty of evidence to suggest public funds can be better spent than supporting elite athletes and high profile sporting events.
Case in point... The fact that Campbell Newman is prepared to cut so many other areas of spending, but won't revisit the $8M he gives to Rugby League every year just to play one or two State of Origin games in Brisbane... as if there is somewhere else the games are likely to be played.
High time we looked past vested interests and feel good policy, and toward action which will improve the quality of life for all, and save our State and National budgets a great deal in the long run.