Sport and fitness are often addressed more frequently than physical recreation in discussions of social and public good. In particular, the New Zealand outdoor environment provides an ideal venue for experiencing physical activity and is conducive to providing educational and stewardship ethics along with physical and emotional wellbeing. This is evident in Canada where it is noted that stewardship ethics are encouraged (Canadian Parks/Recreation Association, 1998).

The following points illustrate the weight of evidence:

• According to the 1996 Sport and Physical Activity Survey undertaken by the Hillary Commission, over one-third of [New Zealand] adults (950,000) can be described as inactive … taking part in less than 2.5 hours of leisure time physical activity in a week" (NZIER, 2000, p.6).

• The 1996 United States Surgeon General released an influential report on Physical Activity and Health. This was to be reflected in the National Health Committee of New Zealand releasing its paper, "Active for Life: A Call for Action. The Health Benefits of Physical Activity" in March 1998. This latter report emphasised the lengthened life span through physical activity and the reduction of cardiovascular disease risks.

• The New Zealand Health Strategy released in December 2000 itemises Physical Activity as one of the thirteen key objectives in the provision of New Zealand's health.

• The Ministry of Health noted in 1999 that physical activity is a key modifiable risk factor to enhance lives, and influences cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental illness and osteoarthritis.

New Zealand's 1st XV of Killers

1	Heart disease	Smoking, high blood pressure, cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity, high fat low vegetable diet, diabetes
2	Stroke	High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity
3	Chronic lung cancer	Smoking
4	Diabetes	Physical inactivity, obesity
5	Depression	Stress, physical inactivity
6	Asthma	Smoking, passive smoking
7	Anxiety disorder	Stress
8=	Lung cancer	Smoking, bad diet, physical inactivity
8=	Road traffic accident	Speed, alcohol, non seat belt use
10	Colorectal cancer	Low vegetable diet, physical inactivity
11	Dementia	Physical inactivity, other stroke risk factors
12=	Breast cancer	Lack of mammography screening
12=	Suicide	Depression, stress
14	Osteoporosis	Obesity, physical inactivity
15	Lower respiratory/tract infection	Lack of vaccination, pneumonia, influenza

Source: The New Zealand Herald 21/01/2000 graphic from information supplied by Ministry of Health

• "A comprehensive literature review conducted by a research team at the University of Alberta indicated that since 1990, over 1500 scientific studies have been published that positively link physical activity and health (CFLRI, 1995). Thirty-eight different types of positive health outcomes were identified ranging from symptom management of Alzheimer's patients to pain control in osteoarthritis. In that report, six major positive health outcomes were identified:
  • The slowing of many forms of physical decline by up to 50%.
  • Prospects for increasing social networks through active living.
  • Enhancement of various cognitive and neurological functions of the brain.
  • Early detection of disease.
  • More rapid recovery following a bout of serious illness.
  • Probability that the immune system will function at a more optimal level thereby maximising protection against many serious ailments" (Canadian Parks/ Recreation Association, 1998, p.4).

• A panel of experts, convened by the United States Centers for Disease Control and the American College of Sports Medicine, recommended 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (such as brisk walking or cycling) each day to achieve the health benefits from physical activity (Pate, Pratt and Blair, 1995). This signalled a departure from earlier recommendations of three sessions a week. This approach has also been adopted by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Bauman, Wright and Brown, 2000) and the Department of Health in Britain (1995). There is reasonable evidence that the 30 minutes can be accumulated through several shorter sessions (Lee, Sesso and Paffenbarger, 2000).

Cancer

• "At least a dozen studies have found a link between exercise and reduced risk of breast cancer." The latest, conducted by Dr. Inger Thune and others from the University of Tromso, followed 25,624 women in the 1970s and early 1980s. After an average of 14 years, 351 of these women developed breast cancer. Researchers found that, after they took into consideration a woman's weight, pregnancy histories and other factors, those who got regular exercise (at least four hours a week) developed significantly less breast cancer (Thune, 1997, cited in Canadian Parks/Recreation Association, 1998, p.17).

• Physical inactivity has been shown to be a risk factor in the development of breast cancer (Verloop, Rookus, van der Kooy and van der Leeuwen, 2000).

• Although the mechanism is not completely understood, there is a clear beneficial effect of physical activity on the prevention of bowel cancer (Colditz, Cannuscio and Grazier, 1997), and it has been estimated that one fifth of all bowel cancers are caused by physical inactivity (Levi, Pasche, Lucchini, Tavani and La Vecchia, 1999).

• The current rate of colon cancers recorded in New Zealand each year, with 1,000 deaths will continue. "Physical activity helps to reduce the risk of colon cancer by benefiting the precancerous polyps in the large bowel" (NZIER, 1998, p.24).

Diabetes and Obesity

• The incidence of non-insulin dependent diabetes is increasing in western societies and is expected to double by 2010 (Zimmet, 1999). This disease is characterised by its onset in adult life and increased body mass, and frequently coexists with high blood pressure and heart disease. Clear epidemiological evidence exists that the risk of developing non-insulin dependent diabetes is reduced by being physically active (Helmrich, Ragland and Paffenbarger, 1994; Manson, Rimm, Stampfler, Colditz, Willett, Kroewski, Rosner, Hennekens and Speizer, 1991), and it has been estimated that between a third and a half of the new cases of NIDDM might be prevented by regular moderate physical activity (Bauman and Owen, 1996).

• 5%-10% of Maori (Simmons, 1996), are disproportionately represented within the diabetes pattern of 2%-5% of all New Zealanders. Up to one-half "of new cases of non-insulin dependent diabetes could be prevented by regular, moderate, physical activity. For those who already have diabetes, physical activity may improve glucose metabolism, increase insulin sensitivity and prevent an increase in atherosclerosis" (NZIER, 1998, p.24).

Coronary Heart Disease

• "The epidemiological evidence now indicates a strong and almost certainly causal relationship between physical activity and mortality from cardiovascular disease, diabetes and colon cancer" (Stephenson, Bauman, Armstrong, Smith and Bellew, 2000, p.11).

• The most persuasive proof concerns the prevention of coronary heart disease, which continues to kill more New Zealanders, often at a relatively young age, than any other disease. Individuals who are regularly active have half the risk from this disease than those with a sedentary lifestyle (Berlin and Colditz, 1990; Powell, Thompson, Casperson and Kendrick, 1987), and in the United States a third of the annual deaths from coronary disease can be attributed to insufficient physical activity (Powell and Blair, 1994).

• The Hillary Commission (1998), has quantified lives lost in noting that: "A 10% increase in the number of adults who are active would return health care savings of at least $55 million a year. This would prevent hundreds of premature deaths" (p.2).

Osteoporosis and Skeletal Injury

• Osteoporosis, a reduction in bone mass and tissue, is related to inactivity, and is a major public health issue in the older sector of the population, where the consequences of hip fractures in particular can be devastating. The maintenance of physical strength and agility is important in preventing falls and loss of independence in the elderly population.

Stroke

• Two studies have shown an increased degree of physical activity is related to a reduced incidence of strokes (Shinton and Sagar, 1993; Wannamethee and Shaper, 1992).

High Blood Pressure

• It has long been established that regular physical activity is beneficial in lowering high blood pressure and furthermore, a sedentary lifestyle with the concomitant weight gain is frequently associated with hypertension.

High Cholesterol

• Regular exercise is recognised to favourably affect the blood lipids, especially the "good" cholesterol fraction HDL. The Heart Foundation of New Zealand in its Lipid Guidelines of 1997 associated a low HDL with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Arthritis

• Whilst the risk of developing osteoarthritis appears to be higher in elite athletes, regular physical activity reduces the symptoms of arthritis and the individual's psychosocial wellbeing in members of the general population (Minor, 1991).

Mental Health

• Regular physical activity has been consistently shown to reduce mental stress and anxiety, relieve the symptoms of depression (Paluska and Schwenk, 2000), and has been favourably compared with anti-depressant medication.