Most sedentary people say that cost, busy work schedules and lack of facilities are the main barriers preventing them from being more physically active. Community pharmacy teams are well-placed to advise on how to incorporate physical activity into daily routines. It should be kept in mind that while some people prefer to exercise alone, others may welcome a social component. Find out what activities are available locally. Examples may include:

• Walking schemes
• Cycling schemes
• Outdoor gyms

‘Mall walking’, popular in the USA, is becoming increasingly common in the UK, with groups running at shopping centres including the Bullring in Birmingham, the Trafford Centre in Manchester and the White Rose in Leeds. For those who enjoy volunteering or exercising outdoors, ‘green gyms’ provide the opportunity for people to get fit while working to improve their local environment. Pharmacy teams can use the four A template to personalise advice:

1. Assess – what is the customer’s current fitness level and preferred type of physical activity? Do they need to do more?
2. Advise – would they prefer an active living approach or organised exercise sessions?
3. Assist – have leaflets available with simple guidelines on increasing physical activity, plus details of local facilities
4. Arrange follow-up – invite the customer to come back to check on their progress.