UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 23 SEPTEMBER 2014
New guidance from The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) aimed at helping people maintain a healthy weight, suggests that people should have ‘TV-free days’ and monitor their weight and activity levels regularly, using apps or weigh-in sessions.
Mel Wakeman, senior lecturer in Nutrition and Applied Physiology at Birmingham City University, said: “It’s unrealistic to expect the public to drastically cut their hours watching TV or have TV free days; we use TV as a way to unwind and relax.
“We need to be more active throughout the entire day, so we need increased support from employers to help build activity into the working day”, added Mel.
“It seems to be in the autumn and winter months that we get embroiled in reality shows that are on several nights a week. The public need an activity that they are motivated to do and will stick to. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go to the gym!”