Fit for Three: Protecting Heart, Kidneys and Blood vessels

The For Kidneys Sake podcast series is brought to you by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and North West London Integrated Care Board (NWL NHS).

In this episode of For Kidneys Sake, Dr Andrew Frankel and Prof Jeremy Levy are joined by Dr Tony Willis, a GP and clinical lead in diabetes and chronic kidney disease prevention. Together, they examine the evidence supporting the role of physical activity in enhancing outcomes for individuals with cardio-renal metabolic disease. Dr Willis shares findings from large-scale studies, including one involving over 120,000 participants, which showed that increased cardiorespiratory fitness is linked to significantly lower mortality. He highlights that the greatest health gains come from simply moving out of the least active group.

The conversation also covers the physiological effects of exercise, including improved blood glucose control, reduced inflammation, and the preservation of muscle mass, as well as the slowing of frailty. Dr Willis outlines practical advice for recommending physical activity, emphasising that both aerobic and resistance exercises are important and can be done without a gym. He also discusses behavioural techniques that support long-term change, helping clinicians guide patients to build sustainable, active routines.

Key Takeaways:

• Modest increases in activity yield significant health benefits, even in high-risk groups.
• Exercise is safe and beneficial at any age, with no known upper limit to its positive effects.
• Combining aerobic and resistance exercises offers the greatest physiological benefit.
• Simple behaviour change strategies, such as habit stacking, make new routines more sustainable.
• Clinicians should use motivational conversations rather than directives to encourage change.

Resource Links:
NICE GUIDELINES [NG203] chronic kidney disease: assessment and management Overview | Chronic kidney disease: assessment and management | Guidance | NICE

Northwest London CKD guidelines for primary care Chronic kidney disease (nwlondonicb.nhs.uk)

The purpose of this podcast is to inform and educate health care professionals working in the primary care and community setting. The content is evidence based and consistent with NICE guidelines and North West Guidelines available at the time of publication.

The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice and it is not intended to function as a substitute for a healthcare practitioner’s judgement.

Produced by award-winning media and marketing specialist Heather Pownall of Heather's Media Hub

Chapters

• 0:39 Introduction to the Power of Exercise
• 2:25 Understanding the Benefits of Exercise
• 2:37 Mechanisms Behind Exercise Benefits
• 7:14 Types of Exercise and Their Importance
• 9:06 Safety and Recommendations for Exercise
• 11:23 Communicating Exercise to Patients
• 16:40 Final Thoughts and Summary of Key Takeaways