MLA Jim Wells, right, takes part in health testing with William Moore, Performance Services Officer in School of Sports Studies

Physical activity and health experts from the University of Ulster have been promoting healthy living by testing Northern Ireland’s MLAs at Stormont. 

Five Assembly Members - Jim Wells (DUP South Down), Carmel Hanna (SDLP South Belfast), Michelle O’Neill (Sinn Fein Mid-Ulster), John McAlister (UUP South Down), and Sam Gardiner (UUP Upper Bann) - took part in a three-day test to see how physically active they are.

Each MLA was given an activity monitor called an Actigraph, which monitors their activity and rest periods. This can then be analysed to reveal the amount and intensity of activity and inactivity of an individual.

Professor Marie Murphy, Head of the University’s School of Sport Studies, said: “I would like to commend each of the MLAs for taking part in this project and helping to raise awareness of the need for physical activity.

“It is extremely important for all people to be physically active on a daily basis to reap many health benefits.

“Some 67% of men and 72% of women are below the recommended levels of physical activity, with 23% of people in Northern Ireland totally inactive.”

The figures are stark, with inactivity estimated to be claiming the lives of over 2,000 people every year in Northern Ireland.

The five MLAs were also joined at a ‘drop-in’ testing area by Iris Robinson MP, Gregory Campbell MP, William McCrea MP, and Nelson McCausland, Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure.

Each of the politicians took part in tests to assess blood pressure, blood glucose levels, arterial stiffness, body mass index and cardiovascular fitness, under the guidance of Dr Gareth Davison, Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology.

Mrs Robinson, who recently started horse riding classes, said: “The only thing I get to do in the free time I get is walking. I would walk about 10 miles at the weekend on the greenway between Comber and east Belfast, and have just began horse riding, which I believe it’s supposed to be good for the stomach muscles.

“I’ve always been athletic. I was a sprinter when I was young and it has stood me in good stead throughout my life. But I’d be very active in terms of running around like a headless chicken all the time so it pays dividends in one way.”

And as for her husband, First Minister Peter Robinson, Mrs Robinson gave away a secret saying he started a fitness regime at home several months ago and he has lost two stone.

There is also a benefit to the economy if people are more active, says Professor Murphy, with the cost of inactivity in England estimated as exceeding £8.2 billion per year.

Professor Murphy said: “It is extremely important for everyone to take up some form of physical activity and it can be incorporated into everyday life, whether it is taking the stairs rather than taking the lift, or even just parking your car further away from the door of your building at work so that there is more of a work can all benefit.

“Activity ‘adds up’ like loose change. If you were to throw your loose change into a jar every night, then at the end of the month look at how much you have. It’s exactly the same with exercise - doing little bits over the course of the day all adds up and the net effect is a massive amount of calories being used up. Your aim should be to accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each day. “

The SDLP’s Carmel Hanna came out top out of the five MLAs in the activity testing and she said: “I was pleased that I did so well on the activity levels and the tests. It has encouraged me to keep walking. I normally just walk at the weekends and I’ll now try to be more active during the week.”

However, the South Belfast MLA did not recommend politics as a profession to enter if you’re health conscious. She said: “It’s not a healthy lifestyle, there’s no doubt about that and it’s stressful too.”

Dr Gareth Davison conducts tests on Nelson McCausland, MLA, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure

For further information, please contact:

Trina Porter
Telephone: 028 71675511
Email: Trina Porter