Chief Medical Officer's Report

At least five a week. Evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health - A report from the Chief Medical Officer

The Centre was commissioned by the Department of Health to produce the background material for this report, which was published in April 2004. Several members of staff helped produce reviews for sections. Chris Riddoch and Ken Fox were the Senior Scientific Editors. There were several other contributors from the exercise science community around the UK and beyond and the work was supported by an advisory panel who included some of the leading contributors to this areas of work such as Professors Jerry Morris and Gerry Shaper. An international review was also called upon to scrutinise the final product. This is the first ever comprehensive review of the evidence to be published by the British government and makes it currently the most up-to-date picture worldwide. It has attracted a great deal of attention from the media and is now instrumental in supporting policy change not only throughout Britain but also in places as distant as New Zealand and Australia.

Department of Health, Physical Activity, Health Improvement and Prevention. (2004). At least five a week:. London: Department of Health.

Available online from www.dh.gov.uk/publications.