NEWS
- From midlife MOTs falling flat to our latest episode of Changing the Game with Stockport County FC and a day in the life with Dr Punam Krishan, get the latest from inside Vitality and beyond -
The beautiful game
Stockport County FC’s walking football programme has been described as a ‘lifeline’ by its players
Football has the power to foster community and connection in a multitude of ways; whether that’s by bringing people physically together on match days, or through supporting a team through highs and lows.
But it’s not just about the game itself. Clubs have a unique opportunity to support social change across their communities; whether that’s tackling health inequalities or social isolation. And this is something that Stockport County FC – of which Vitality is the Official Wellness Partner – is leading on.
In our latest Changing the Game episode, we take a deeper look at how Stockport County FC is championing men’s health and changing the game for its supporters, and the wider Stockport community, through walking football.
Join us as we hear from the club’s owner Mark Stott, the inspirational walking football players and the people within the club making it all possible.
Wake-up call
Around 90% of people with sleep apnoea don’t know they suffer from it – and it’s having long-term health impacts
Sleep apnoea is a serious medical condition that can impact sufferers’ quality of life, and yet, 80–90% of people with it don’t know they have it. The condition – where people stop and start breathing while they sleep, which can include gasping and snoring – can leave people feeling chronically tired, which can have a knock-on effect on our mental and physical health. Studies have also shown that sleep apnoea can cause further health problems, including type 2 diabetes, strokes and heart attacks. New research has also found that left untreated, sleep apnoea also raises the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
If you want to know more about how sleep impacts our long-term health, turn to page 6.
Missed your MOT?
More than half of people in their midlife are missing out on vital health checks
New findings show that less than half of people in England who are eligible for a ‘midlife MOT’ are not taking part. According to the National Audit Office, just 8.8% of eligible people between the ages of 40 and 74 attended a Health Check between 2023 and 2024 – scaled up this equates to 44% of eligible people attending a health check every five years. The checks were introduced in 2009 to help identify if people were at higher risk of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes. They were also designed to give tailored advice to patients who may have a specific healthcare concern.
Want to know how you can stay well in midlife? Turn to page 7 to find out how.
Vitality shirts up in 2026
Vitality expands decade long partnership with AFC Bournemouth
Our famous pink logo will front The Cherries’ jersey for the first time during the 2026-2027 football season. The move strengthens our long-standing commitment to the club, which saw us rename Dean Court the Vitality Stadium in 2015. As the Official Wellness Partner for both male and female teams, Vitality and AFC Bournemouth have also collaborated on a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support the wider community in recent years, including the Vitality Kickstart Programme. Speaking about the 10-year partnership, Vitality’s Group CEO, Neville Koopowitz, described the announcement as a natural “next step and a further example of our aligned commitment to inspire more people to move more, making a positive difference to the health of many lives across the world.“
a day in the life
Unsurprisingly, health is first and foremost on the mind of Vitality Ambassador, Dr Punam Krishan. Morning, noon or night, she is helping, not just her family stay well, but her patients too, as an NHS GP.
Join Vitality for her day in the life and find out how she gets her health fix.
