A new study has revealed that adopting a healthier lifestyle could help people keep dementia at bay.

According to a review published in The Lancet medical journal, up to 40% of dementia cases could be delayed or even avoided by eating less, exercising more, and quitting smoking and drinking.

The research reveals that around 340,000 out of the UK’s 850,000 dementia cases are a result of people’s lifestyle (alongside environmental factors, medical history and education). This moves even further away from previous assumptions that dementia was purely a matter of fate brought on by ageing and genetics.

The review, conducted by 28 of the world’s foremost dementia experts, found 12 factors contributing to dementia – all of which are in our control. The researchers included British scientists from University College London, Cambridge, Exeter, Edinburgh and Manchester.

Scientists are discovering that dementia is not inevitable, and a person’s lifestyle can either increase or decrease their risk of developing the condition later in life.

For example, we know now that poor blood circulation caused by diet, exercise and alcohol consumption has a significant impact on the brain.

Professor Clive Ballard of the University of Exeter, one of the researchers, said: “Our findings present an exciting opportunity to improve millions of lives across the world by preventing or delaying dementia, through healthier lifestyle to include more exercise, being a healthy weight and stopping smoking, and good medical treatment of risk factors like high blood pressure.”

He continued: “This analysis shows there’s real potential to improve brain health by taking action.”

Dr Rosa Sancho, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, agrees: “While there’s no sure-fire way of preventing dementia, the best way to keep your brain healthy as you age is to stay physically and mentally active, eat a healthy balanced diet, not smoke, drink only within the recommended limits and keep weight, cholesterol and blood pressure in check.”

Around the world, there are currently more than 50 million cases of dementia. This figure is expected to increase to 152 million by 2050.

At Paragon Structures, we’re committed to improving the health and fitness of local communities. Our fabric membrane sports structures are quick to build, energy-efficient, and versatile enough to be used for all kinds of sports – from football to golf to swimming.

The cricket and golf centres we constructed at Millfield School in Somerset earlier this year demonstrate how sports facilities can be used by the whole community to stay healthy well into old age. Check out some of our recent construction projects.

If you’d like to find out more about our low-cost, high-tech structures, get in touch with the team today.

New figures have helped lift spirits within the struggling construction industry.

According to data for June from industry analyst Barbour ABI, the number of construction contracts that were awarded in the UK increased by 81%.

Throughout the month, a total of 477 construction contracts were signed – a figure that equates to around £2.2 billion of new business, looking at data over three months.

Many in the industry hope that this signals a recovery from the crippling impact of Covid-19 – albeit a slow one. The estimated value of new projects is a drop of 9.2% from the previous month, and a decrease of 57.3% compared to June 2019. 

However, a growth in numbers is being taken by many as a positive sign. It’s hoped that as the UK sees more lockdown restrictions being lifted, that growth will continue.

The data comes from the Barbour ABI’s Economic & Construction Market Review, which reveals the majority of the contracts awarded (39%) were for residential projects. However, the largest single contract was found in the infrastructure sector; the refurbishment of Gatwick Airport’s train station is valued at around £150 million.

In terms of the geographical distribution of contracts, London takes the lead, with 26.1% of the total. The capital is followed by the South East (16.4%) and the North West (13.6%). While Wales had the lowest number – just 1.4%

These figures are in line with the government’s commitment to using construction to help rebuild the UK’s economy. A statement from Downing Street in June detailed a £5 billion package of capital investment in infrastructure projects, including schools, hospitals, roads and rail.

Speaking about the situation, Tom Hall, chief economist at Barbour ABI and AMA Research, said: “The UK economy plateaued in May as the easing of some lockdown restrictions mid-way through the month failed to significantly increase output.

“June’s figures […] will give a better understanding of how quickly lost output can be regained as larger parts of the economy resumed activity.”

At Paragon Structures we’re confident growth in the construction industry will continue. As a company, we’re dedicated to delivering modern, environmentally-friendly buildings at a more affordable cost than conventional construction methods. Our reliable, tension fabric buildings can be built quickly and adapted to any industry. To find out more, check out some of our recent projects or get in touch with the team.

Boris Johnson is calling for the nation to lose weight this summer to save the NHS £100 million and tackle the Coronavirus.

The government’s ‘Better Health’ campaign comes after new research by Public Health England revealed overweight or obese people are at significantly higher risk of suffering severe Coronavirus symptoms if they contract the disease.

The study found that being classed as medically obese increases the risk of dying from the virus by 40%.

According to official government data, 63% of adults in the UK are above a healthy weight. Of those, 36% are classed as overweight and 28% obese.

Currently, one in three children aged 10 and 11 are overweight or obese, and children living with obesity are five times more likely to be obese in adulthood – a figure we’re keen to help reduce here at Paragon Structures.

The government’s strategy includes extending NHS weight loss services, GPs handing out ‘cycling prescriptions’, and introducing more segregated cycle lanes to our roads. Patients will be able to access bikes through participating doctor’s surgeries. Meanwhile, low-traffic neighbourhoods and secure bike parking could also be introduced to encourage more people to get cycling.

The plan also includes a ban on TV junk food adverts before 9pm and an outright ban of junk food ads online.

As the NHS prepares for a possible second spike in Coronavirus cases this autumn, the aim is to encourage 35 million people to be more active, lose weight and live healthier lives.

Johnson has previously criticised taxes on foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat. However, it’s thought that his stay in intensive care and treatment for Covid-19 has played a part in his shift in opinion.

A Government spokeswoman said: “Covid-19 has given us all a wake-up call of the immediate and long-term risks of being overweight, and the Prime Minister is clear we must use this moment to get healthier, more active and eat better.”

Tackling obesity by providing the right facilities

At Paragon Structures, we’re committed to tackling obesity in people of all ages. Creating buildings that serve the local community is a key priority and we work hard to get people engaged in physical activity by providing the sporting facilities they need to do so.

Our modern, eco-friendly, tension fabric structures make sport more accessible, and our quick-build technology means structures are completed faster and for less money.

We recently completed cricket and golf training centres at Millfield School in Somerset, which can be used by both pupils and the wider community. If you would like to find out more about our structures and learn how we can help your community get more active, contact the team today.

Joe Wicks did a great job getting kids moving through lockdown. But there’s only so much one man can achieve.

Despite his best efforts, children’s activity levels took a knock during lockdown. In fact, one in 10 were getting no physical activity at all. But that looks set to change.

As someone who spends his weekends cheering on his son from the touch line, I’m pleased to see sport and activity are firmly back on the agenda this September. The government has confirmed a 10-year school rebuilding plan (complete with £1 billion cash injection), an additional £560 million going towards school repairs, and the continuation of the £320 million PE grant for primaries. All of which, it hopes, will boost both the physical and mental health of our young people.

Sport for the whole community

When sport is seen as a priority in schools, it’s not just the pupils who benefit – the whole community does, too.

Data from Sports England shows that 77% of all sports halls are found in schools, colleges and universities. Many share their sports facilities with the local community, so the more outstanding those facilities, the better for everyone.

3 key construction considerations

At Paragon Structures, we want everyone to get active, providing innovative and eco-friendly sports facilities for them to do so. The Sports and Play Construction Association, the UK trade association for the sports facility construction industry, suggests a number of ways schools can get a head start on their next sports facility project. 

Here we highlight just three of those suggestions and show how Paragon’s state-of-the-art tension fabric buildings can help educational establishments ‘build back better’.

1. Set a realistic build programme

Building a sports facility using traditional methods could take a year or more to complete (not ideal when summer holidays are only six to eight weeks). You don’t want to sacrifice quality, but the quicker a sports structure can be erected, the less disruptive it will be. The building technologies we use at Paragon Structures result in rapid build times and the structure’s strength, performance and energy-efficiency are not compromised.

Take the 21x50m cricket centre we built at Millfield School. It took just under seven weeks to build the super structure and a further eight weeks to complete the internal fit-out. Construction of the super structure took place outside of term time meaning minimal disruption for the school and the interior fit-out was able to start much sooner than if it had been a traditional build.

2. Choose the right contractor

If a build is going to be successful, you need a competent team of experts on board. So before you make any decisions, do your research. Look at previous projects that contractors have completed and talk with previous clients if you can.

But managing all these different elements can be complicated and time consuming. At Paragon Structures, we offer our clients a one-stop shop solution, pulling together our team of leading industry professionals, from contractors and engineers to architects and developers. By coordinating the key players from one central point, we can ensure all projects are delivered on time, budget and to spec.

3. Get the right design based on who’s using it

When it comes to building sports facilities, the world is your oyster. With so many technologies and designs to choose from, schools can tailor their structures to the finest of detail. At this stage in the process, it’s important to think about not just how a sports facility will be used, but who’ll be using it.

Now more than ever, the demand for sports facilities and a focus on healthy living is crucial in easing the strain on the NHS.

Paragon Structures was conceived from a desire to tackle child obesity and the ongoing health crisis which affects people of all ages, and we’re constantly working to get more kids engaged in physical activity.

Getting our communities active has never been more important. So if you’re looking to expand your school’s sports offering, and help the local community at the same time, get in touch with the team at Paragon today.

There are lots of lessons to be learned from the coronavirus crisis. One of them is the need to place more focus on making sure sport can better serve society in a post-Covid world.

Wherever you look, the message is a united one: sport is essential to post-coronavirus global recovery. But questions are being asked about whether the role of sport in society should return to normal. Or whether it’s time for a change to sport as we know it.

Which is why the International Platform on Sport and Development has identified themes impacting the role of sport in society now and in the future.

Here we look at two of those themes and show how Paragon’s innovative, eco-friendly sports facilities can help make sport in the community accessible to more.

Investing in teaching and learning

If sport and sport development are going to move in the right direction, investment in teaching and learning is a must. From sport degrees to community workshops, the training provided needs to bridge the gap between theory and practice. It’s all about educating people on how sport can transform their bodies, minds and communities. 

At Paragon, our focus on education means we are ideally placed to provide state-of-the-art sport education facilities. We develop a range of educational solutions including classrooms, sports halls and swimming pools. Our quick-build technology allows us to build in a fraction of the time, and at a fraction of the cost. 

Focusing on people and communities

The only way to truly level the playing field, is by taking a bottom-up approach to sport development. That means giving as much priority to grassroots sports in the community as elite and performance-based sport. By changing the way sport is viewed and celebrated, it can begin to better meet the needs of local communities. 

We have recently completed cricket and golf training centres at Millfield School in Somerset. These modern, eco-friendly, tension fabric structures provide a high-tech sporting environment for both pupils and the wider community. As a result, the school now boasts some of the best golf and cricket training facilities in the world. 

At Paragon Structures, we’re committed to providing the facilities people need to be as active as possible. We specialise in sports facility construction for both the leisure and education sectors and have made sport for the local community one of our key priorities.

Get in touch with the team to find out more.

A round of golf can benefit a child’s health, behaviour and wellbeing.

This is according to the Golf Collaboration Project – a joint research venture carried out by Carnoustie Golf Links and Abertay University in Scotland.

Children who took part in the project were assessed on their golf skills, physical activity and personal wellbeing. The results saw improvements in young people’s wellbeing across the board, while improvements in physical activity were seen in three out of four tests.

Speaking about the findings, lecturer at Abertay University Dr Graeme Sorbie highlighted the positive impact golf can have on kids. He explained that the study showed, “children are not only enjoying playing golf but are improving their personal wellbeing and physical skills at the same time.”

The benefits of exercise on young people’s mental health was also the subject of a study by University College London and King’s College London. According to the findings, teenagers who do light activity are less likely to become depressed.

It’s already known that children’s activity levels decrease as they move through their teenage years, and the number of teens with depression is increasing. 

The study showed that more time spent doing light activity aged 12 to 16 can lead to lower depression rates by the time a young person is aged 18. Meanwhile, sitting still for long periods was linked with higher rates of depression.

Even small drops in depression scores seen in the study can have a big difference on the mental health of some young people.

With lockdown restrictions easing and facilities like golf clubs able to open again, there is renewed interest in the sport, especially for children. This has led to guidance about teaching golf to children in the wake of Covid-19 being issued by the junior golf charity, Golf Foundation.

The guidance, endorsed by the PGA, states that one coach can safely offer lessons to up to five children or a family of five. It also offers advice on how to maintain social distancing, set up activities, and disinfect equipment between uses.

Encouraging our children and young people to be more physically active is more important than ever – and so is having the right sporting facilities. Paragon specialises in the construction of state-of-the-art, tension fabric buildings, including golf centres, where young people can get active and improve their health and wellbeing – whether that’s in a leisure or educational setting.

We recently constructed a golf centre at Millfield School in Somerset, which boasts teaching bays, practice bays and a putting green, in just four weeks.

To find out more about the project, contact the Paragon team today.

Lockdown has done more than reduce the spread of Coronavirus, it’s also made people want to get fit.

According to a Coronavirus survey carried out by Sport England, 60% of the population is planning to get more active as lockdown restrictions begin to ease.

Data from the survey reveals that following an initial spike in activity levels early on in lockdown, we collectively became less energetic as schools, shops and workplaces started to reopen.

At the end of 2019, Sport England’s Active Lives survey revealed 28.6 million adults were exercising moderately for at least 150 minutes each week – figures that were a record high.

Of course, life in lockdown has made it harder for people to keep up their pre-Coronavirus levels of activity. The survey shows that 52% of those questioned feel guilty for not having done more exercise. While 32% admit it will be a challenge to sustain their lockdown activity levels as restrictions ease.

However, the outlook for the sport and fitness sector does seem positive.

62% of people plan to continue their daily walking and cycling habits as we start to move out of lockdown. And Lisa O’Keefe, executive director of insight at Sport England talks about “a real opportunity […] to build on the good habits people have created.”

There are encouraging signs elsewhere too. Results from a survey carried out by PwC in May this year reveals that many of us are keen to get back to the gym.

According to the PwC survey cited by Leisure Opportunities, nearly a third of gym users (30%) said they missed it a lot, and gyms were rated the activity people would most like to return to immediately once facilities opened again (17%).

Gym goers aged between 25 and 34 proved to be the most ready to return to their gym routine – 43% said they were all set to make a return as soon as the gym doors reopened.

Speaking about these findings, Lisa Hooker, consumer markets leader of industry at PwC said: “For the gym sector, there’s a hardcore base of customers who can’t wait to come back.”

She continued: “There’s every opportunity for operators to maximise consumer willingness to spend through the summer once they are safely able to open.”

At Paragon Structures, we’re committed to providing the facilities people need to be as active as possible. We specialise in sports facility construction for both the leisure and education sectors.

Our state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly, tension fabric buildings offer a rapid build time and low construction and on-going maintenance costs.

Take a look at the recently completed golf and cricket centres at Millfield School in Somerset and discover the benefits this new sporting environment brings to the pupils and the wider community.

Get in touch with the team to find out more.