A BARNSLEY MP spoke on a debate on the positive impacts sport can have on reducing diabetes.

Stephanie Peacock, who is also the Minister for Sport, highlighted how physical activity can have a notable impact on the likelihood of developing type two diabetes, whilst also referencing the importance of physical activity for a number of chronic health conditions, as well as promoting good mental health.

In Barnsley, physical activity levels are below the national average.

Stephanie, who represents Barnsley South, added: “Being physically active is particularly important in helping to reduce the risk of chronic diseases in adults and manage those long-term health conditions, with evidence showing that physical activity directly prevents 3.2 million cases of long-term health conditions per year, including 600,000 cases of diabetes.

“However, despite these benefits, we know that almost 12 million adults are inactive and over a third of children do less than 30 minutes of activity a day.

“This varies by geography, ethnicity, and socio-economic background.

‘I have seen this first hand in my own constituency where people live for seven years fewer in Stairfoot compared to people on the other side of Barnsley, in the more affluent area of Penistone.

“Increasing physical activity and reducing inactivity is part of the government’s health agenda to shift from treatment to prevention.”