Prescribing Movement: NHS Pushes for Physical Activity in Routine Care
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
A new report from NHS England is calling for a more ambitious integration of physical activity into clinical care, highlighting the wide-ranging benefits for both individuals and the healthcare system. Titled Harnessing the Benefits of Physical Activity, the report presents a clear message: embedding movement into everyday healthcare could improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and help address rising levels of economic inactivity linked to chronic health conditions.
The evidence is compelling. Physical inactivity is estimated to contribute to 1 in 10 premature deaths from coronary heart disease and 1 in 6 deaths from any cause in the UK. Despite this, more than one-third of adults do not meet recommended aerobic activity levels, and less than half engage in sufficient muscle-strengthening activity. The latest data shows that over a quarter of adults are classified as inactive, and nearly one-third of children and young people do less than 30 minutes of activity a day.
The cost of inactivity is also economic. A 2019 report by Sport England and Sheffield Hallam University estimated that community sport and physical activity contributed over £9.5 billion in value to the economy. This includes £5.2 billion in healthcare savings, £1.7 billion in reduced social care needs, and £450 million from avoiding 30 million GP visits.
Crucially, physical activity is not just preventative—it plays a central role in the management and treatment of long-term conditions. The NHS report emphasizes that physical activity can delay the onset and progression of diseases, support faster post-surgical recovery, and improve mental health outcomes. This is particularly relevant for conditions driving economic inactivity, such as musculoskeletal disorders and poor mental health.
Despite its proven value, physical activity remains underutilized in clinical care. The NHS report outlines a four-point strategy to better embed physical activity into health systems:
1. Empowering Clinicians and Health Professionals
Evidence shows that one in four patients would become more active if advised by a healthcare professional. Yet many professionals report lacking the training or confidence to initiate those conversations. The NHS is advocating for improved professional development through initiatives like the Moving Healthcare Professionals Programme (MHPP), the Moving Medicine tool, and new digital signposting resources such as 'Couch to 5K' and 'Active 10.'
2. Integrating Activity into Clinical Pathways
NICE guidelines now reference physical activity in 98 different clinical areas, including cardiovascular disease, cancer care, musculoskeletal health, and mental health. The report encourages the use of prehabilitation programs—such as 'Fitter Better Sooner' and Prehab4Cancer—to prepare patients for surgery and accelerate recovery.
3. Supporting the NHS Workforce
Physical activity is also being positioned as a workforce wellbeing tool. Examples include flexible scheduling to support active travel, promoting healthy workplace environments, encouraging gym memberships, and endorsing NHS staff to act as role models. The NHS Health and Wellbeing Framework supports this holistic approach.
4. Collaborating with the Physical Activity Sector
The report calls for stronger partnerships between the NHS and the fitness and physical activity sectors, particularly at the local and regional level. Collaboration with integrated care systems (ICSs) and boards (ICBs), as well as local authorities and community-based providers, is seen as essential to address health inequalities and improve access for underserved populations.
At the recent Active Uprising conference hosted by UK Active, industry leaders were urged to “just do it”—to proactively present solutions rather than wait for directives from government or the NHS. This new NHS report suggests that the healthcare system is not only ready to listen, but actively seeking collaboration.
For operators and professionals in the fitness industry, the message is clear: physical activity is no longer a peripheral wellness tool—it is a central component of healthcare. And the door is open for those with scalable, evidence-informed solutions.
