This is some info/stats on weight in Bradford/Airedale. Probably can be replicated across the country but these are specific to us. May have been taken into account (assuming the PCT (Primary care trust) and the council talk to each other) when deciding on options for increasing access to sporting facilities and upgrading Richard Dunne - which is not really fit for purpose.

The figures are still grouped according to the old geographical PCTs - before they all merged - self explanatory I hope!

Area, Adult pop, estimated obese adults, prevalence of obesity

Airedale , 74,690, 15,765, 21.1%
City, 104,348, 21,236, 20.3%
North, 90,166, 18,306, 20.3%
South&West, 133,169, 32,491, 24.4%

Health Survey for England (2004-2006): National average 23.6%

There is also some data for child obesity - courtesy of the National Child Measurement Programme(school-based)

Bradford South&West has the highest prevalence of obesity in Year 6 children - 21.6%

Wibsey Ward at 25% prevalence is consistently in the top 20% nationally

Also the highest prevalence for reception year children (2-5yrs) in the area
is Thornton % Allerton Ward with 13.5%

Obesity being measured using BMI. The reason the adult measurement is estimated is because not that many adults actually get weighed & measured at their GP practice very often. The school data is much more accurate

What BMI classes as obese? I reckon many RL players (Solomona, Paleaseena etc) would easily fall into this category. Even our esteemed coach who has ballooned since taking the job

18-25 Normal range
25-30 Overweight
30+ Obese

I knew it wouldn't be long before a Solomona gag!

Athletes don't fit very well with the BMI system - ie Sir Chris Hoy I think fits the obese category - mainly because he has tree trunks for legs.

In the case of high performance athletes you would want to be doing body fat estimates, chest,waist,thigh measurements etc in addition to just a calculation about height/weight

Perhaps I'm over simplifying things here, but to sum up, is it a case of if you're fat you get a new sports centre and rugby stadium?

If that's the case, what about us? Have you seen Guess Who?

You guys get a new Asda

Here's the BMI lowdown on 4 of the fittest men who ever lived, our gold-medal winning coxless fours:

Matthew Pinsent (GB) Rowing (Coxless four)
(Overweight: 196cm, 108kg, athlete BMI=28.)

James Cracknell (GB) Rowing (Coxless four)
(Overweight: 192cm, 100kg, athlete BMI=27)

Ed Coode (GB) Rowing (Coxless four)
(Overweight: 193cm, 96kg, athlete BMI=26)

Steve Williams (GB) Rowing (Coxless four)
(Overweight: 189cm, 96kg, athlete BMI=27)

Fat barstards!
=orange(Is Solly on the boat?)

Ah - but you are below national average up in Airedale must be all those hills, running with the sheep and goats

etc

Seriously, Richard Dunne sports centre is pretty decrepit. There are many reasons for improving access to sport across Bradford/Airedale (ignoring the stadium) of which the alarming growth in childhood obesity is one. S&W has a big problem with this.

I remember one of the consultation papers was discussing selling off playing fields for housing to help pay for this. I would be against that as we need all the [iproperly used and maintained[/i sports facilities for kids that are available

Not another doughnut outlet?!?!

With? You mean after?

Is that similar to a dickless creep?

I refuse to go swimming in the pool at Richard Dunn's, however if a new pool is built across the road and it costs the same or more to use I'd be there like a shot, and I'd be fit as a fiddle in no time.

I believe there are thousands like me.

I remembered going to Richard Dunns with the scouts in the late eighties and thought it was pretty good.

So when Barnsley Metrodome was shut one day last year and I wanted to take the god kids swimming I went there.

Not the same really.

Who are you kidding!

I think the obesity rate is similar, if not higher in Wigan (yes, pies and all that), but the PCT here have a run a project that gives ya free slimming world and an exercise class for 12 weeks... Its the reversed the obesity statistic in me and hopefully a few more, seems like a good idea! And I'm now at a nice trim 'overweight' BMI

.

Swimming is free for everyone in Wigan too, which is nice, though Wigan doesn't have a pool at the moment! Having said that, has Bradford ever had a pool in the centre?

Also, after going to uni and swimming at the Manchester Aquatics Centre, every single public pool is absolutely rubbish in comparison, so I've only been once since 2006.

The things i do for my club.