The GP exercise referral scheme is said to bring a dramatic uplift in life satisfaction for people across Greater Manchester, according to fresh survey findings.
Commissioned by GM Active and conducted by social value specialists State of Life, the research underscores the real impact that structured physical activity programmes can have on overall wellbeing.
The data shows that people taking part in GP exercise referral programmes reported life satisfaction scores averaging 1.9 points higher on a 1-to-10 scale, compared with those still on a waiting list.
To put that in perspective, previous studies have found that moving from unemployment into work typically raises life satisfaction by just 0.5 points.
For public health advocates, these findings underscore the potentially transformative role that guided physical activity can play.
State of Life used a Treasury-recommended approach, combining regression analysis with a bank of more than 200 validated questions to produce what it calls ‘Wellby’ scores.
These scores capture self-reported measures of happiness, anxiety, loneliness, and sense of purpose. More than 1,700 people in Greater Manchester—both participants in an exercise referral programme and those waiting to join—were surveyed.
Early results show notable increases in happiness and feelings of worth, along with lower levels of anxiety and loneliness among those already in the programme.
Will Watt, founder of State of Life, explains why these findings stand out. “These results are what we call first findings and although there is similar work going on elsewhere, they’re significant because you’ve got a former health minister and Treasury secretary, Andy Burnham, as mayor, and integrated health authorities, so this puts Greater Manchester ahead of the game in proving the worth of physical activity, and that could influence national guidance.
“What’s more, we’ve carried out what’s known as regression analysis. This means we’ve taken into account factors such as age, health, disability, socioeconomics, and employment status to give us more confidence that any positive difference we see in the scores is actually due to participation and not anything else.”
A follow-up phase of data collection is underway and will run until the end of January, with final results set to be broken down by each borough.
GM Active, a collective of 12 leisure and community organisations that represent all 10 local authorities in the region, will use these findings to inform its strategy of tackling physical inactivity and promoting healthier lifestyles.
Andy King, Chair of GM Active, credits State of Life’s comprehensive methodology. “Will and his team at State of Life are doing a fabulous job, so a big thank you to them.
The early results are really encouraging as they help demonstrate the positive impact the referral schemes are having on participants, and this helps us to evidence the impact they are having across Greater Manchester.
“This piece of work along with others such as UK Active with its MSK hubs and the collaboration with six ICBs; the Active Partnership’s ongoing work on health pathways with Move Consulting, and the great work Dr Coral Hanson is leading on in Scotland with the Physical Activity Referral Standards, will contribute to the evidence base that our sector can contribute to the government’s transformation of health care; treatment to prevention, hospital to community and analogue to digital. There’s still a lot to be done, but this is a significant step forward.”
The survey’s Wellby scores paint a compelling picture. Participants rated their overall life satisfaction at 6.7 versus 4.2 for those on waiting lists, and reported lower anxiety levels at 3.67 compared to 4.65 among non-participants.
They also experienced heightened feelings of happiness and worth, while loneliness appeared to decrease for those engaged in the programmes and increase for those still waiting.
Buoyed by these encouraging early results—and with more data on the horizon—GM Active and its partners are keen to fortify the evidence base supporting GP exercise referral.
Their overarching aim is to showcase how carefully designed physical activity schemes can deliver lasting benefits for community wellbeing, positioning prevention and proactive health measures front and centre in public healthcare strategies.