Overweight over 40s can now be prescribed free gym membership by GPs in Milton Keynes

Overweight people aged 40 and over can now be prescribed free gym membership by their GP in Milton Keynes.
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The Energie Fitness Gym in Kiln Farm has joined forced with the Milton Keynes GP Federation to help get adults back into fitness.

More than 66 per cent of adults in MK are classed as either overweight or obese. That's two out of every three people.

Energie, based in Kiln Farm, believes it can help tackle the obesity epidemic by helping people exercise more and make healthier food choices.

Overweight people can have a month's free membershipOverweight people can have a month's free membership
Overweight people can have a month's free membership

Gym owner Rob Francis said: “We felt we could support the work that our GPs do to try and get the public to play an active role in looking after their own health and fitness.

We have a lot of experience working with people who need that extra support. So it seemed natural that we could help Milton Keynes GPs in their government driven efforts to provide

“social prescribing” - in other words a move towards getting the public to take positive action."

The GP federation represents all 26 surgeries in MK, and GPs from any practice will now be able to prescribe a free month of membership at energie.

Dr Thao Nguyen, based at Parkside practice based in Bletchley, said: “The Federation recognised that it’s very hard for GPs to get time to give their patients much needed advice and support to help them to be more physically active. For patients too it’s hard to know where to start in their journey to a healthier life-style.

"So working with a reputable gym like energie Fitness, where there are always staff available with the expertise to give helpful guidance and advice was very important to us."

Dr Thao added: “We hope this initiative will provide people who want help a place to get advice and guidance in a

supportive atmosphere. It’s all about people getting more active, enjoying moving more and making healthier food choices. If we can get this right it’s a small step that we hope will help reduce the number of adults reaching crisis point with their weight and needing medical intervention”

Anybody over 40 who is interested in receiving a free month's membership at energie Fitnesss should talk to their GP practice.

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