GPA0012

Written evidence submitted by School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences - The University of Essex

1. Background to the University and our submission

The University of Essex is a research and teaching-intensive university. We are determined to do things differently and put student success at the centre of everything we do. The University is ranked within the global top 100 universities and our research is making an impact on knowledge, practice, and policy. The university is a top ten institute for REF research quality and power across a range of subjects. The School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences and our research groups explore questions with a strong societal impact such as the impact of participation in grassroots sport, exercise, and physical activity. Our academics are well placed to contribute to this call for evidence. This includes studying the impact of green exercise, the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of participating in sports-based interventions, and the role of the Olympic legacy on physical activity participation. We have submitted a sample of novel evidence representing the measures which increase participation in sport and physical activity (2.1).

2. Evidence submission

2.1. Undertaking the following measures increases participation in sport and physical activity:

The school conducts research examining the impact of grassroots green exercise programmes and sports-based interventions. Research conducted by University of Essex academics[1] indicates meeting physical activity guidelines within a green setting can improve wellbeing (g=0.812 (95% CI [0.599, 1.025]). These data indicate the lower the starting point of wellbeing the greater the efficacy participation holds for wellbeing. Moreover, where green environments as a site for interventions are utilised there is good evidence which indicates grassroots schemes conducted in the wilderness can contribute meaningful changes to wellbeing[2, 3] and programmes using community gardening can improve self-esteem and mood[4]. This underscores the importance of providing physical activity within green spaces and protecting these environments within UK governmental policy. Assuring access to green spaces is vital in reducing health inequalities.

Academics at the university have also conducted research into the role of sports-based interventions on physical activity participation, health, and wellbeing. For example, programmes using walking netball conducted in partnership with Loughborough University and the University of Nottingham indicates participation contributes to meaningful changes in metabolic equivalent of task at 3-months (188.3) and 12-months (298.6) following the start of the programme)[5]. To some extent, the success of these sports-based programmes (i.e., their existence) can be traced to the Olympic legacy. However, the evidence representing the overall impact of the Olympic legacy is less clear. Indeed, analysis from our academics indicates the Olympics may have caused a negative legacy on the fitness of young people[6]. While analysis of Active Lives data (post-2015) indicates the participation in physical activity of adults living in London decreased when compared to the UK population between 2016 and 2017 (see Figure 1). 

Figure 1: Comparisons of Adult Physical Activity Participation Between London and UK Populations 

3. Reference List

1. Rogerson M, Wood C, Pretty J, Schoenmakers P, Bloomfield D, Barton J: Regular Doses of Nature: The Efficacy of Green Exercise Interventions for Mental Wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17(5):1526.

2. Barton J, Bragg R, Pretty J, Roberts J, Wood C: The Wilderness Expedition. Journal of Experiential Education 2016, 39(1):59-72.

3. Smyth N, Thorn L, Wood C, Hall D, Lister C: Increased Wellbeing following Engagement in a Group Nature-Based Programme: The Green Gym Programme Delivered by the Conservation Volunteers. Healthcare 2022, 10(6):978.

4. Wood CJ, Pretty J, Griffin M: A case–control study of the health and well-being benefits of allotment gardening. Journal of Public Health 2016, 38(3):e336-e344.

5. Kinnafick FE, Brinkley AJ, Bailey SJ, Adams EJ: Is walking netball an effective, acceptable and feasible method to increase physical activity and improve health in middle- to older age women?: A RE-AIM evaluation. The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity 2021, 18(1):136-136.

6. Sandercock GRH, Beedie C, Mann S: Is Olympic inspiration associated with fitness and physical activity in English schoolchildren? A repeated cross-sectional comparison before and 18 months after London 2012. BMJ Open 2016, 6(11):e011670.

September 2022