Sedgemoor has a significantly higher proportion of its adult population overweight than national and regional averages, according to new figures that are released at the start of a new fitness campaign.
The study by Sport England found 73.4% of residents in Sedgemoor are overweight, the highest in the South West and the fifth highest in the whole country.
The figure is 7% more than the Somerset average and 10% more than the UK average.
Sedgemoor also lags behind in the population’s physical activity figures compared to other districts within Somerset, with 1 in 5 adults (21.3%) not participating in any form of physical activity.
It comes as Highbridge’s King Alfred Sports Centre is set to join a global fitness challenge during March to encourage adults and children to embrace fitness.
The centre is one of five across the region taking part in the ‘Let’s Move for a Better World’ challenge which runs from March 1st-19th.
Organiser 1610 says it hopes that the local people will head to King Alfred Sports Centre to kick start a more active lifestyle.
The challenge involves local communities donating physical activity using Technogym cardio vascular equipment in leisure centres. 1610 aims to donate a million ‘moves’ to win the challenge and donate free gym equipment to local schools.
1610 Fitness Development Manager Joe Philip says: “Anyone can donate moves to the campaign for 1610, from sports teams to business executives, and all are welcome to come along and embrace fitness for a great cause.”
“You don’t have to be a 1610 member to come along to the five centres taking on the challenge, we just need people to donate moves on the gym equipment.”
“We came so close to winning before so we are calling on local South West Communities to help us reach a million moves and give some much needed gym equipment to local schools in your area.”
To contact the Highbridge centre, call 01278 786868.
