In Birmingham and across the West Midlands, fitness and sports play a crucial role in promoting health and wellbeing. With activity rates falling significantly below the national average, the region faces unique challenges in encouraging physical activity.
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00:00Birmingham and the West Midlands have a diverse range of fitness and sporting opportunities but participation rates remain lower than the national average.
00:11According to the latest Active Life survey by Sport England, over half of Birmingham adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week.
00:22However, inactivity remains a concern with nearly a third of residents reporting limited or no physical activity.
00:29The region is home to popular teams at sports such as football, cricket and basketball which saw increased participation as pandemic restrictions eased.
00:39Outdoor activities including walking, cycling and jogging also attract those looking to stay active without needing specialised facilities or equipment.
00:48Park runs in particular have become a growing trend for residents of all ages, offering a free and accessible way to improve fitness.
00:57Efforts to improve access to fitness opportunities have been highlighted as key to addressing the gap.
01:03Local councils and community organisations are working together to create initiatives targeting inactive populations.
01:10These include subsidised gym memberships, new walking and cycling routes and the introduction of community-based exercise programmes in areas with higher inactivity rates.
01:21The role of schools in promoting fitness among children has also been emphasised as crucial for fostering lifelong healthy habits.
01:29The importance of sports and fitness extends beyond physical health.
01:33Regular activity has been shown to improve mental wellbeing, reduce stress and build community connections.
01:40Social sports leagues like amateur football or netball not only offer exercise but also provide a chance to meet new people and strengthen bonds within neighbourhoods.
01:50As the benefits of physical activity for mental and physical health become increasingly recognised,
01:57Birmingham's community-driven sports culture might play a pivotal role in inspiring greater participation.
02:04We took to the streets to ask people if they engage in any fitness activities and what they'd recommend to others looking to get started.
02:13I do go to the gym. I try to be as regular as possible for myself. I try to go four to five times a week throughout the gym and try to do cycling or jogging sometimes.
02:29Yeah, I mean myself, like I say, I go to the gym, I play netball to kind of balance out with my uni style, so I feel like that helps me.
02:37I mean with other people, so it depends on what they enjoy doing, you know, people can like, I don't know, sports, if people are playing sports like netball, football, rugby, it depends really what everyone else is out into, you know.
02:49You can go out and play like mini golfs and yeah, there's so much out there people can like get engaged in, they just have to find the right services and yeah.