WORLD FITNESS DAY

That this House celebrates World Fitness Day which takes place on 9 September 2015; notes that it was founded in 2010 by the former model and fitness trainer Jane Fonda; further notes it is a day on which to recognise the value of different forms of exercise in order to promote healthy lifestyles; notes that exercising for just 15 minutes a day can increase life expectancy by three years compared to doing little or no exercise; expresses concern that the proportion of adults who are obese was 13 per cent for men and 16 per cent for women in 1993, but is expected by the World Health Organisation to have increased by 2030 to 74 per cent and 64 per cent respectively; is concerned that physical inactivity costs the 28 EU countries £58 billion a year; therefore calls on governments to ensure clear health guidelines with recommended amounts of exercise for different age groups, and to ensure access to a range of physical sports and activities which are affordable and accessible; further calls on employers to consider flexible working hours for staff to enable them to purse fitness-related activities during the working day; and gives its support to World Fitness Day as an excellent initiative to highlight the benefits of staying fit and commends all those taking part.