Get active this December with Leicester Diabetes Centre’s Active Advent!
The festive season is here! While it’s a time for joy, celebration, and indulging in delicious treats, it’s also a time when many of us become less active. But what if this December, we turned tradition on its head and made movement a part of our celebrations?
Starting on 1st December, Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) invites you to take part in Active Advent, a fun and festive way to stay active in the lead-up to Christmas.
Why Active Advent?
The Christmas period often sees a drop in physical activity and an increase in sedentary behaviours like sitting and screen time. Coupled with the abundance of festive treats, it’s no wonder that many people experience a small weight gain during the holidays. But small changes can make a big difference!
That is where Active Advent comes in. Inspired by the traditional Advent calendar, this initiative offers daily physical activity ideas instead of chocolate. Whether you are an Easy Elf, a Moderate Mrs Claus, or a Strenuous Santa, there is something for everyone to enjoy while boosting your health and wellbeing.
What can you expect?
From 1st to 24th December, we will share fun, simple, and engaging activity suggestions each day. These will include:
Easy Elf activities: gentle movements to get you started.
Moderate Mrs Claus ideas: a bit more effort to get the blood pumping.
Strenuous Santa challenges: for those who love a good workout.
How to get involved
Follow us on social media – stay updated by following Leicester Diabetes Centre on our social media platforms.
Share your journey – Post about your Active Advent activities using our hashtag and inspire others to join in.
Get Moving – Embrace each day’s activity and have fun!
What does the research say?
In 2021, Dr Greg Biddle, Research Associate at LDC, led a pilot study to test this idea with the Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour (CLiMB) at Loughborough University, and the results were inspiring! Participants in the Active Advent group increased their daily physical activity by around 21 minutes compared to those who did not take part. They also reported feeling more energised and less sedentary.
The study highlighted that people enjoy Christmas-themed activity challenges and that these initiatives can help combat the usual holiday inactivity.
Read the full paper on the BMJ website: https://www.bmj.com/content/379/bmj-2022-072807#
Let’s make this December active!
Join LDC’s Active Advent, and make December healthier, happier, and full of festive cheer.
Follow us on Facebook or X (formerly Twitter) to get started. Don’t forget to tag us and use #LDCActiveAdvent in your posts!