MPs begin ‘Fit for Office’ challenge following Westminster health checks

Politicians across the country have signed up to a new health challenge starting on 1 March, called ‘Fit for Office’, which encourages them to recognise the benefits of physical activity for themselves and the communities they serve.

More than 130 participants from around 50 offices have signed up for the month-long challenge so far, which will see MPs, Peers and their offices battle it out to be crowned Westminster’s ‘Physical Activity Champion’.

The challenge, organised by ukactive, the UK’s trade body for the physical activity sector, and supported by global fitness tracking provider Myzone, aims to raise awareness among policymakers of the benefits of physical activity for their own physical, mental and social wellbeing, and its importance to the nation’s health.

To complement the challenge, parliamentarians were invited to Westminster Gym, which is managed by Jubilee Hall Trust, for a series of health checks with Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi from ITV’s ‘This Morning’ programme, alongside Dr Shahnaz Hussain, Consultant Psychiatrist for Mental Health, and Dr Jo Fleming, NHS Health and Wellbeing Coach.

The sessions meant MPs, Peers and their staff could receive advice and simple steps within their workplace, to support their physical and mental health wellbeing. The doctors provided support with any ongoing physical ailments, as well as sharing techniques to establish habits to support and maintain health and wellbeing, with visitors encouraged to sign-up for the ‘Fit For Office’ challenge.

Participants in the challenge will be given a MZ-Switch heart rate monitor that measures their physical activity across the month, with the technology tracking ‘effort’ levels rather than volume or distance covered – ensuring the challenge can be enjoyed and accessed by all.