Reaching out into the Community
Reaching out into the community
Through the REACH group research, the Faculty is helping different communities to understand the relationship between physical activity, fitness and health.
Researchers into leisure and food have been investigating health and fitness in school children since 1996 through Liverpool City Council’s Sportlinx project, the largest on-going health and fitness project in Europe. The results of the research by Drs Sue Taylor, Allan Hackett and Gareth Stratton paint a worrying picture of the physical development of the city’s young people. Over 50 per cent of 11 year old boys, and 40 per cent of girls in the same age group, were found to be overweight as a result of poor diet and lack of exercise.
The good news is that by identifying the causes of obesity, LJMU has been able to develop sustainable community-based solutions that really do make a difference. Through the Faculty’s Food and Leisure Forum, and in partnership with South Primary Care Trust (NHS) and Liverpool Leisure Services, LJMU has established After School Nutrition and Cookery Clubs.
Nicola Ridgers is evaluating the impact of new playground design on educational attainment and health and fitness. The research, funded by Sport England and Liverpool City Council, covers 20 Liverpool schools and is expected to play an important role in the promotion of physical activity and sport within the local community.
