Free-of-charge exercise medicine

John Schembri is politicising the issue with his letter Government Bashing Over Aerobics Classes (May 21). Although I cannot hide my identity as a PL candidate for the EU elections, in my letter, Abrupt Suspension Of Free Aerobics Classes (May 18) I was extremely careful to state the facts and to give my professional suggestions (as a sports medicine expert) to the government. Not only that, but in the concluding paragraph I even praised the way these free aerobics classes were being conducted and begged the government to reconsider its decision in the hope that these classes start again.

The aerobics classes were purely governmental because besides the Health Department paying for the aerobics instructors, the six local councils who kindly offered their premises, also fall under the same central government. So, I hope this clarifies Mr Schembri's belief that these aerobics classes in local councils were a private concern in his attempts to shield the local authorities. The author of this letter is also missing a crucial point. He is suggesting that alternatively, one can go for a brisk walk. However, when you join a group or a class you socialise and make new friends, an important aspect of exercise that is often not mentioned, usually due to ignorance on the subject.

Moreover, all the participants were monitored at least twice during each eight-weeks programme via a fitness test and questionnaire. Who will monitor your progress while walking on your own as Mr Schembri is suggesting? The participants were also medically screened prior to applying because it is common knowledge that if you are not physically fit you ideally do not embark on a non-supervised exercise programme.

There is, however, one thing I agree completely with Mr Schembri. It is when he said "No one seems to know why the classes (of aerobics) were stopped. Maybe the organisers are the ones who should answer that question". Well, the prime organiser was the Health Department and, therefore, I take this golden opportunity from Mr Schembri to address this question directly to them.

I used the words "exercise medicine" in the title of this letter on purpose. The free aerobics classes should not be looked upon as a sport (as after all, there is no element of competition in them), but more as exercise medicine. That is why, in my previous letter, I stressed on the fact that these aerobics classes should remain the prerogative of the Health Department and not of any sport authority.

Each aerobics session that makes you sweat profoundly should be looked on as though you have taken a cocktail of drugs for the protection of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis. Research also shows that the risk of colon cancer and breast cancer is also reduced with regular physical activity. Furthermore, as aerobics to music classes are held in groups, they promote psychological well-being and reduce stress, anxiety and feelings of depression and loneliness.

Following this, I now turn my attention to the free-for-all policy. As I said above, aerobics is not considered as sport but as an exercise medicine. It is, therefore, in the interest of the government to invest in preventive services that will, in the long run, cut costs within the health sector.