According to national statistics, the NHS is now spending a record amount on treating obesity. Thetford in Norfolk is the town that has the majority of cases, and the situation there is worrying enough that the government has pledged £1m to help encourage a healthier lifestyle.

Fearing an Americanized culture of overweight people, steps are being taken to ensure we all eat healthier diets and exercise more. Thetford, being the worst culprit of the fat fry diet, has a life expectancy that is amongst the lowest in the country.

Part of the government’s healthy initiative is to encourage not only the right diet, but also an active lifestyle that will improve individual wellbeing, whether that’s through “gym equipment” such as a pedal exerciser or simply by incorporating more walking into the daily routine. To this aim, there are a number of schemes that will be implemented within the next three years over nine different towns – as you can see, there’s a lot more to it than just purchasing “gym equipment”!

Dudley – Creating family friendly parks
Halifax – Fruit and Vegetable scheme
Middlesborough – Farm expansion
Sheffield – Breastfeeding initiatives
Portsmouth – Walking and cycling initiatives
Thetford – Encouragement to exercise more
Manchester – Exercising schemes
Tower Hamlets – Healthy food initiative

You’ve all seen the adverts consisting of attractive young twenty-something’s shrieking with delight as they bend and jump about in their living rooms whilst using Wii Fit. It looks great doesn’t it? I have always tried to avoid going to the gym, never quite managing to find the motivation for staring at myself for hours on end while I pumped iron or concentrating on not falling off the exercise bike. When I saw the adverts for the Wii Fit though, I saw exercise in a whole new light. Was it reality as fun as it looked? Could this be the way forward for those of us who are too lazy to go to the gym?

Well, yes and no. Yes, it is fun to play, and you are arguably more motivated to prance about in your front room than you would in the public eye. It is a great way of losing weight, and the 40 different activities will mean you won’t get bored of playing it any time soon.
On the downside, it isn’t that great for building up muscles, and I get the general impression that the program was designed with women in mind. A shame really, as I think they’ve missed a trick there, but hopefully Nintendo will release Wii Fit 2: Steroid Edition soon.

As it stands, you have a more than competent ‘game’ that is both fun to play, and will help improve your overall “fitness” levels no end. Better, dare I say, than going to the gym!

Time for a bit of boxing news in the “sports blog”! Londoner David Haye gave American Monte Barrett a lesson in boxing with a five-round demolition at the 02 Arena earlier this month. It was his first fight in the heavyweight division after making the step up from cruiserweight, and the Briton was generally considered the underdog before the punches started flying and it became clear he’d spent a lot of time strengthening himself on his weight bench. Haye’s trash-talking stateside opponent swaggered into town riding high on a sea of confidence, but barely half an hour after setting foot in the ring, was sent packing with his tail between his legs.

An impressive display by all accounts, with one of Ukraine’s Klitschko brothers being his next likely fight. When questioned after the fight by reporters on which Klitschko brother he would like his next opponent to be, Haye quipped: “Flip a coin, I don’t care.”

Vitali Klitschko himself was present at ringside during the fight, and appeared to be impressed with what he saw: “It’s not easy to go to from cruiserweight to heavyweight but David Haye did it brilliantly. I was surprised. The heavyweight division needs strong and good fighters. I saw a new heavyweight fighter who can fight for the world title.”

It may be some time before we see avid Haye challenge for the world title though, as Lennox Lewis (remember him?) is rumoured to be making a comeback. He is sure to be the clear favourite to fight one of the Klitschoko brothers first. If that is the case, then why don’t the ‘powers that be’ do a deal for Haye to fight the other one? See, I knew I should have been a boxing promoter…

Thanks to some stunning victories recently in their World Cup qualifying group, FIFA announced that the England football team has risen up the table to join Portugal in tenth place in the official world rankings. If ever there was proof needed that the “England football” team has improved under Fabio Capello’s leadership, then this was it. So far they are undefeated in their group, with a perfect four wins out of four. The World Cup couldn’t come soon enough with that kind of form! The same good news doesn’t carry across to the other home nations however, with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all dropping down the table.

FIFA World Rankings
1. Spain (-)
2. Germany (+1)
3. Italy (-1)
4. Netherlands (+1)
5. Brazil (-1)
6. Argentina (+1)
7. Croatia (-1)
8. Russia (+1)
9. Czech Republic (-1)
10. Portugal (-), England (+4)
Others
33. Scotland (-7)
36. Republic of Ireland (+2)
42. Northern Ireland (-7)
62. Wales (-1)

The football boot of choice for attacking midfielders, the Adipure may be an expensive little number, but wearing one of these will pay dividends whilst on the pitch. If you play in other positions, you may find them unsuitable; especially if you happen to be a striker or a winger. They have been designed specifically for tackling and quick kicks – areas in which they excel in – and you may have trouble passing accurately with these on. They are right up there when it comes to dribbling with the ball too, and you are always in control when you embark on runs.

Built to the high standard that you would expect from Addidas football kit, these boots are both lightweight and sturdy, and should last you for at least a couple of seasons if you take good care of them. For a new pair of football boots, they won’t take long to bed in and after a couple of runs they are comfortable enough to play in. Definitely recommended, the only downside to them is the hefty price tag. Still, with the January sales in sight, you should be able to pick up these boots, along with other Adidas football equipment at a lower price before long.

With the release of Electronic Art’s FIFA 2009 a few weeks ago comes the closest challenger to the ‘Best Football Game’ trophy in the shape of annual ever-presents Pro Evolution Soccer. Konami have always prided themselves on delivering a rich video game, focusing strongly on playability over authenticity. Whilst the series cannot boat the same licenses and official team set-ups the FIFA games have become known for, many gamers prefer to play Pro Evo as it offers a more rewarding and more slick experience.

This time around, the developers of Pro Evo have focused on improving the opposition teams AI, and they respond quickly to any change of tactics you employ during the 90 minutes. Ball control and passing have also undergone modifications, enabling you to pass the ball around with more realism than before, as your team move about into position as they would in real life ready to receive the passes. An enjoyable game that fans of the series will appreciate, if you are not too fussed about the lack of licenses – with only Manchester United and Liverpool football kits making an appearance for Premier League fans - then this is worth a serious look. You can always wear the football shirts and football kits of your team of choice while you play!

Having said that, I couldn’t help but feel that FIFA has the upper hand in the video game stakes this year, so make sure you try them both before you buy.

Armchair footballers around the world rushed to the shops in their droves last week to snap up the latest installment in the FIFA series. FIFA 09 continues Electronic Arts tradition of releasing an annual update for their sports titles, apparently boasting over 250 new features and improvements over the old game. Goalkeepers are now much harder to score against, with increased reaction and recovery times allowing them to make some spectacular saves. There are numerous other changes made, many small and minor – for example, updated football shirts - all adding up to a more authentic experience. For example, if you select to play in an evening game, the first half is shown during daylight conditions, whilst duck settles into the second half with the final whistle being blown to a pitch bathed in floodlights as night has descended.

Do all these changes mean it is worth purchasing if you already own FIFA 08? Hard to say really, as it is basically the same game as before, albeit played at a faster pace and with minor tweaks. My advice is to leave it a month, by which time Pro Evolution Soccer 09 will have been released. Depending on how that shapes up, if you are after the most complete football game available, then this could just be the title for you.

FIFA 09 is available on the Xbox 360, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Playstation Portable, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii and PC.

Polish football sunk to new depths last week after its court-appointed chief suspended the national football federation. The reason for this was due to their inability to tackle charges of corruption in the domestic game. The man behind the suspension, Robert Zawlocki, was appointed temporary chief of the federation by the Polish Ministry of Sport after questions were raised regarding numerous cases of rule-breaking and violations, including match-rigging and bribery. 29 clubs have so far been implicated.

“Legal chaos reigns in the federation right now, and it has to be brought into order,” Zawlocki was quoted as saying. Some may see this suspension as a little harsh, especially going on past events in Poland.

The board was previously suspended in 2007 for similar problems, although FIFA were highly critical of the move. A year later, and they haven’t changed their mind when it comes to what is seen as political meddling in the sport. They have now ordered a full reinstating of the board by the 6th October or they will face penalties.

Poland are due to co-host the European Championship in 2012 along with Ukraine, and there will be many anxious eyes on the Polish Football Federation to see what impact these latest developments will have on the tournament. If the board isn’t reinstated, they may face losing the rights to host the tournament altogether.

Interesting times indeed. And you thought England football was bad?

With the recent price-cut announcement for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console, and with the unit now selling like hot cakes, I thought it would be a good time to have a look at what footy titles are available for Bill Gate’s box of tricks…

FIFA 08
If you’ve ever played any of the previous incarnations of EA’s FIFA series, prepare yourself for something different this time around. The game features an entirely new game-play engine, and adds a bit of innovation to what was starting to become a slightly tired formula. If you are looking for the most authentic football experience on the 360, this is the game to go for. It features fully licensed teams and stadiums from all major leagues across the world, including player names and likeness. If you’ve ever dreamt of being Wayne Rooney, rather than forking out for a replica >football shirt this could be the answer to your prayers. Either that, or you should consider seeking medical help.

FIFA Street 3
Looking for a change to the usual 11-a-side action you find on a football pitch? FIFA Street lives up to its name, and enables you to play 5-a-side matches across car parks, courts and indeed streets the world over. Famous locations include Liverpool’s docks, San Paulo backstreets and a skyscraper rooftop in Shanghai. Style and ball skills are paramount here, with the emphasis on flair and creativity, as opposed to just lobbing the ball as hard as you can towards the goal. A game that is good for a laugh, although you may become tired of playing it once you have mastered all the moves.

Football Manager 2008
For those of you who have always thought “I could do better than that” whilst slowly shaking your head at your managers latest team selection or their latest football transfer choice, well now is the chance to see if you really do have what it takes. SEGA’s Football Manager games are the most famous and respected of all management sims out there, and if you have some serious time to kill (i.e. They take bloody ages to play!), then you will find nothing more satisfying than taking a non-league side up through the ranks to win the Premier League. Possibly.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
Fans of football games are split in to two camps. On the one hand, you have people who swear by the FIFA series, proclaiming its realism and use of licenses make it the title to go for, and on the other you have those who harp on about Pro-Evo’s superior game-play. The problem with this game is the lack of licenses available. Whilst all the players are there, unfortunately only Newcastle and Spurs are represented in this game. As a work around, you will find teams such as London FC (Chelsea) and Man Red (Manchester United). Still, when a game plays as amazing as this does, who really cares about such minor details?