March: Pee pee trees, meh meh menopause …

and food as a luxury item

1. Working Well

Nuggets, morsels and pernickety smalls

So. Much. Happening. First up, a big congrats to Bella for a sub-five Barcelona marathon. Oh and BTW FYI we spent all of yesterday in a studio sitting for new publicity shots. Four whole years since the last lot – every wrinkle equals wisdom.

But enough us and more work: we recently finished a series of workshops in inner city London with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. Great sessions for sure but a painful reminder that individual health requires system health. More later.

Against the backdrop of an International Women’s Day when reminders were autoripped out of people’s calendars – yeah him again – The Well HQ team attended en masse the Women of the World (WOW) conference at the Royal Albert Hall.

Legendary activist Angela Davis gave the event’s keynote, and it was an honour to share air with someone whose life’s work has paved the way for organisations like ours. In another memorable WOW spot, writer, rapper and Rizzle Jordan Stephens laid out beautifully the importance of bringing young men into the mission; not least as an antidote to patriarchal messages and toxic masculinity.

On that, everyone’s talking about Adolescence (which can only be a good thing) and we hear that goofily loveable show Ted Lasso will next season feature an English women’s team. Our sources tell us that producers are consulting Lioness players to ensure extra realism so, if done right, this could be a real watershed piece of media.

2. The World at Well

Yeah but yeah but yeah but where’s that money going?

We left the prior section on a footballish note, so let’s stay there for Deloitte research that really talks up the positive trajectory of women’s sport. Apparently revenues will hit $2.35bn this year and footie is a massive piece of that pie.

While no one wants to piss on anyone’s Christmas tree, the Deloitte report seems at odds with a FIFA one published circa 24-hours prior. FIFA offers a slightly different narrative in the same way freckles and monsters trucks are slightly different.

Studying the game in 669 countries, FIFA tells a story of average female player salaries of £8,420 per year and two in three clubs operating at a loss. The average women’s football team overspends on its revenue by 71%. Unsustainable much?

Women’s sport revenues might reach billions this year but as far as we’ve been able to see, that cash ain’t funding female-specific coaching and education. That cash ain’t in kit and facilities. It sure as schnitt ain’t lining player pockets.

These are the areas which need attention if we’re to build real sustainability into women’s football. If the world’s most moneyed sport is this deep in the pokey then what does it say about the outlook for other sporting systems?

3. Can you hack it?

What better way to meet our neighbours?

The Well HQ recently teamed up with our landlords and fellows at House of Sport London to bring the whole building an in-depth workshop on puberty.

And while this might read like bread and butter work for TWHQ, it was truly encouraging to see dozens of attendees — men and women, younger and older — representing diffuse businesses, charities and thinktanks inside sport.

You’d be surprised how many people (who work in health and sport) thanked us for filling major blank spots in their understanding of the developing female body. It’s positive, it’s hopeful, and it feels like our team grew by a few dozen people …

Oh on that, applications are still open for a Project Manager role at TWHQ. Click?

4. Here Comes the Science Bit

Food flaws in the foundations

Our recent work in Tottenham brought home the painful realisation that probably seven in ten young schoolgirls 11-16 skip breakfast and this notion is better explored in The Broken Plate report 2025, published by the Food Foundation (a collective of academics and advocacy groups) in January.

Owing to the impacts of climate change, inflation, lack of knowledge, junk-food availability and so on, many families don’t / can’t afford to eat decent and nutritious food, and this is showing in our nation’s health statistics like never before.

To pull out a couple of depressing facts, the average child consumes less than half the recommended amount of fruit and veg but twice the recommended amount of sugar. Dental issues abound, and children in the most deprived fifth of the population are twice as likely to be living with obesity than children in the top fifth.

There’s nothing brand new here but the extremes of it are vivid and food poverty is hitting more people more acutely than in days past. As we’ve observed in schools there are cultural wrinkles in play too. For example, breakfast clubs exist and do a great job but there’s a stigma: many would rather go hungry than eat there.

TWHQ advocate that young people take their health and wellbeing seriously, yet that’s a tall order when the very foundation of health (food / nutrition) is unattainable for so many. These notions are intrinsically interwoven and herein lies a stark and sobering reminder that individual health relies on system health.

5. Medical BS

Exactly where did Cupid’s arrow land?

Dr Bella says: The fundamentals. I’ve become so aware of women splurging on expensive lotions, potions and products to combat perimenopause symptoms.

A recent report found that the average menopausal woman spends nearly £2,000 a year on stuff which, for me, is often unnecessary. Hype marketing plays on people’s fears and anxieties, and there’s little rigour and regulation to hold claims to account.

If ever I’m asked to recommend menopause products I suggest a session with a pelvic floor coach, blackout blinds and comfortable bedsheets. I then recommend well-fitting sports trainers and a comfortable sports bra as a prelude to getting active. Gym memberships are great but a (free) running / walking / exercise group will also help you to stay active, plugged in and accountable.

Budget is always well spent on good food. Maintain your intake of fruit, veg and protein and it should negate the need for most supplements; barring Vitamin D in the winter, calcium for bone health, zinc if you get sick a lot, and strong suncream to protect your skin. Dr Emma compiled a fuller list so click over to Insta for that.

Lastly de-stressing is so important that I’d recommend sinking budget into things like facials, massages or a mindfulness app. If money’s tight then go for a walk, soak in a bath or head for the coast.

The basics are so important and, really, menopause needn’t break the bank.