PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Designs should make exercise an easier choice, for example by providing bike storage facilities

Opposite page: cartoon highlighting how unhealthy lifestyles have become the norm

Opposite page, bottom left: a successful campaign in New York City that encourages physcial activity in buildings through signage

Modern comfort, combined with electronic entertainment, sedentary labour, stress, poor eating habits and alcohol consumption contributes to the unhealthy lifestyle of the average UK citizen. Despite the widely known benefits of physical activity on our wellbeing and health, many of us still find excuses to avoid it and fall well short of the recommended 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Design, across all sectors, has the potential to nudge users of buildings to be more active, without them even knowing. As ‘sitting becomes the new smoking’, incorporating movement into our everyday lives can drastically improve our physical health, mental wellbeing, and cognitive function. In children especially, exercise is vital for brain development and improved social skills.

Endless campaigns have encouraged taking the stairs over a lift, but how often do we actually listen to this (very sound) advice? Stairs designed with aesthetics in mind could provide the motivation needed. Further, circulation routes within buildings can encourage activity, with wide and well-lit corridors, or pathways that lead to a point of interest (views, art, greenery). Critically, these routes must also be accessible for the physically disabled and those with wheelchairs. Although it sounds obvious, shared exercise spaces or even bike storage provisions, that are accompanied by shower and changing facilities, could be what it takes to get more people exercising more often. Such design aspects are, thus, synergetic with other goals in spatial planning, such as sustainable design and universal access; users are nudged to choose the stairs over lifts, cycle rather than driving, and take part in active recreation rather than watching that new series on Netflix.

In 2015-16, the NHS spent £154 billion on chronic illness

HORMONES RELEASED DURING EXERCISE

Dopamine, the reward and motivation chemical, contributes to feelings of alertness, focus and happiness. This helps to bring about a ‘flow state’, where the feelings experienced encourages people to exercise again. Dopamine also plays a crucial role in memory - this will be useful in commercial and educational settings. With an ageing population, it could also be useful in reducing diseases of the brain and nervous system, and their symptoms, such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s Disease.

Serotonin, a chemical responsible for happiness, is released, boosting mood and a sense of wellbeing. It also improves appetite and sleep cycles, leading to more energy and clearer thinking.

Endorphins are released, triggering positive feelings in the body (you’ve probably heard of the runner’s high). Endorphins activate ‘opioid’ receptors in the body, which can diminish the perception of pain, so you can push through the discomfort of exercising, or even have reduced symptoms of disease.

Designing spaces in buildings for children to exercise is crucial to their development

Western healthcare is primarily centred around the treatment of symptoms, yet many chronic diseases are preventable. Research shows that physical activity can significantly reduce a range of chronic diseases. For instance, obesity may be prevented as the burning of calories, through exercise, can prevent a build-up of fat. People (adults and, alarmingly, children) with obesity are five and a half times more likely to suffer from type II diabetes than people who are not overweight, three times more likely to have high blood pressure and twice as likely to suffer from arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Physical activity can increase the length and quality of life, whilst helping to combat school dropout rates, office absenteeism and healthcare costs.

Engaging muscles is important as it leads to the production of more muscle protein to avoid degradation. Further, joint stability is improved (possibly preventing back pain as we get older); inflammation is reduced; and key enzymes are maintained.

Above: UK obesity statistics from 2017 that highlight the current epidemic

Right: causes of death in the EU, 2016 - many from complications of preventable chronic diseases

Left: designs can make stairs a point of interest to encourage their use - this is The New York Times office, where the stairs have incredible views onto the surrounding city