1. Londontowner asked Vivienne Nathanson : "Certain groups like young males routinely put themselves at above average risk by driving. Hundreds are killed or injured each year, yet society tolerates it and is legal. So why ban boxing for women?..." Show more »"Certain groups like young males routinely put themselves at above average risk by driving. Hundreds are killed or injured each year, yet society tolerates it and is legal. So why ban boxing for women? What's different?" Show less »
2. Vivienne Nathanson answer: "The BMA’s key concern is the significant medical implications of boxing in both the short and long term. There is however something of a contradiction in the inclusion of violent sports such as boxing..." Show more»" The BMA’s key concern is the significant medical implications of boxing in both the short and long term. There is however something of a contradiction in the inclusion of violent sports such as boxing at an event of purported international goodwill. "Show less«
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4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Sport   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 14 2007 9:31:21 AM

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1. sevenof8 asked Vivienne Nathanson : "Boxing is becoming increasingly popular for women as a form of exercise, with many gyms promoting it as a good form of self defence and a way of improving self confidence, along with it's physical health..." Show more »"Boxing is becoming increasingly popular for women as a form of exercise, with many gyms promoting it as a good form of self defence and a way of improving self confidence, along with it's physical health benefits. Is boxing safe for women when used purely as a form of exercise rather than practised as a competitive sport?" Show less »
2. Vivienne Nathanson answer: "As well as the large risk of acute injuries sustained in boxing, some of which are major, there is a risk of chronic damage following repeated trauma. Each time someone is hit on the head they may sustain..." Show more»" As well as the large risk of acute injuries sustained in boxing, some of which are major, there is a risk of chronic damage following repeated trauma. Each time someone is hit on the head they may sustain a minor degree of brain injury. It has been claimed that eighty per cent of boxers have brain scarring as a result of the cumulative effects of blows to the head. Once damaged, the brain is increasingly susceptible to further damage. Boxing also damages the eyes, ears and nose - in some cases there may be permanent sight or hearing loss. Specifically to women, trauma to the breast can cause a condition called fat necrosis, in which part of the tissue dies and becomes a hard lump – the effectiveness of breast protection is limited. We have not investigated differences in the relative prevalence of long-term injuries to women and men. "Show less«
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4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Sport   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 14 2007 9:28:38 AM

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1. shakeel8 asked Vivienne Nathanson : "Recent media reports highlight both childhood obesity and growing disinterest in sports among teenage girls as major health concerns. Given that there is no real evidence to show that amateur boxing ..." Show more »"Recent media reports highlight both childhood obesity and growing disinterest in sports among teenage girls as major health concerns. Given that there is no real evidence to show that amateur boxing can cause long term health problems, if children are interested in taking this up as a sport wouldn’t the advantages of being active outweigh the disadvantages of minor injuries? " Show less »
2. Vivienne Nathanson answer: "Obesity is an increasingly significant problem in the UK and efforts should be made to encourage interest in sport and being active. But boxing has its own significant risks to health, and as such concerted..." Show more»" Obesity is an increasingly significant problem in the UK and efforts should be made to encourage interest in sport and being active. But boxing has its own significant risks to health, and as such concerted effort should go into advertising and raising participation in other sports, where inflicting pain and injury is not the objective. Although there is less evidence of long-term health problems in amateur boxing, that does not mean there is no risk. Evidence suggests that like their professional counterparts, amateur boxers are affected by chronic brain injury, albeit to a lesser extent. The use of headgear in amateur boxing is often promotes as preventing brain injury, when in fact it only prevents superficial head damage. This could mean that boxers receive more damage to their brain than they would otherwise, for example a fight continuing to knockout, which may have been stopped earlier due to other superficial head injuries. There is also the possibility that head guards could increase the injury by presenting more angled edges to blows which then produce the classical boxing rotational acceleration effect. The only way to prevent brain damage in boxing is to either ban boxing entirely or ban blows to the head. "Show less«
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4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Sport   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 14 2007 9:23:00 AM

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1. shakeel8 asked Vivienne Nathanson : "The BMA states that it is morally unacceptable in our society to promote a sport which aims to inflict brain damage on an opponent, especially in regards to children. However both the Police community..." Show more »"The BMA states that it is morally unacceptable in our society to promote a sport which aims to inflict brain damage on an opponent, especially in regards to children. However both the Police community clubs and the Amateur boxing Association run youth programmes to promote social inclusion in deprived areas. Isn’t it better for kids to be channelling their energies into boxing and get a few cuts and scrapes rather than being prey to the gun culture and violence so often reported in some poorer areas of the UK?" Show less »
2. Vivienne Nathanson answer: "Children’s boxing is sometimes defended on the grounds that they learn to work through their aggression with discipline. The BMA believes there are many other sports, including athletics, swimming, judo..." Show more»" Children’s boxing is sometimes defended on the grounds that they learn to work through their aggression with discipline. The BMA believes there are many other sports, including athletics, swimming, judo and football, which require discipline but do not pose the same threat of brain injury. While young boxers do not have as powerful a punch as mature boxers, some studies have found that young boxers exhibit early evidence of brain damage. This danger was highlighted in 1987 by the death of 15-year-old amateur boxer Joseph Strickland, due to acute brain injury. The BMA believes that the government should give more consideration to the provision of alternative leisure facilities for the young, particularly in deprived areas. "Show less«
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4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Sport   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 14 2007 9:22:18 AM

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1. tobie75 asked Vivienne Nathanson : "What do you think about boxing being reintroduced into the school curriculum for girls as well as boys?"
2. Vivienne Nathanson answer: "The inclusion of boxing in the school curriculum is very worrying. While, in schools, it would be non-contact fighting exercises it could encourage more people to take up the full-contact sport outside..." Show more»" The inclusion of boxing in the school curriculum is very worrying. While, in schools, it would be non-contact fighting exercises it could encourage more people to take up the full-contact sport outside school. Inevitably if people take part in “real” boxing they are exposed to the very real possibility of brain damage. The BMA believe there are two main reasons for banning children under the age of 16 years from boxing: • children have little understanding of risk, and are especially likely to underestimate the seriousness and level of risk of chronic brain damage, which develops only after a lag period measured in decades or more • there is no place in contemporary society for a youth sport which has, as its primary goal, the infliction of acute and chronic brain damage on an opponent. The BMA is calling for a ban on children’s boxing due to the severity of the risks involved. "Show less«
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4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Sport   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 14 2007 9:19:24 AM

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1. citybird15 asked Vivienne Nathanson : "Do you think that including women’s boxing in future Olympics will have a serious impact on the numbers of girls taking up the sport in the future, and are the BMA taking steps towards blocking it’s inclusion..." Show more »"Do you think that including women’s boxing in future Olympics will have a serious impact on the numbers of girls taking up the sport in the future, and are the BMA taking steps towards blocking it’s inclusion at the 2012 Olympics? " Show less »
2. Vivienne Nathanson answer: "As mentioned earlier, the BMA believe that boxing has no place on the sporting line-up, especially for international competitions promoting a message of peace and harmony. Inclusion of women’s boxing ..." Show more»" As mentioned earlier, the BMA believe that boxing has no place on the sporting line-up, especially for international competitions promoting a message of peace and harmony. Inclusion of women’s boxing in the Olympic programme would encourage more girls to take up boxing, due to the high profile of the games. The BMA continues to call for a ban on boxing in all forms. "Show less«
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4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Sport   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 14 2007 9:18:19 AM

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1. Parisotto asked Vivienne Nathanson : "At the moment public opinion seems in favour of boxing but we don't hear much about the health risks and or progress of anti boxing legislation. What are the BMA doing to advance the anti boxing campaign..." Show more »"At the moment public opinion seems in favour of boxing but we don't hear much about the health risks and or progress of anti boxing legislation. What are the BMA doing to advance the anti boxing campaign at governmental level and what effect would this have on the bid to have women's boxing included in the 2012 Olympics?" Show less »
2. Vivienne Nathanson answer: "The British Medical Association (BMA) has been an authority on boxing since 1982 and opposes both amateur and professional boxing and calls for a complete ban. In September 2007 the BMA updated its call..." Show more»" The British Medical Association (BMA) has been an authority on boxing since 1982 and opposes both amateur and professional boxing and calls for a complete ban. In September 2007 the BMA updated its call for a ban on boxing to include other combat sports such as mixed martial arts fighting. The BMA along with the Australian Medical Association believe that ‘international events based on the spirit of goodwill – such as Olympic and Commonwealth Games – are no place for interpersonal violence and injury’ and that ‘it's time to remove boxing from the sporting line-up’. Boxing by men and women is equally unacceptable. "Show less«
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4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Sport   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 14 2007 9:17:09 AM

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1. nanapaname asked Vivienne Nathanson : "What do you think of programmes that show boxing as a positivee activity for young people? For example the recent channel 4 show Amir Khan's angry young men. Do you think such shows properly represent..." Show more »"What do you think of programmes that show boxing as a positivee activity for young people? For example the recent channel 4 show Amir Khan's angry young men. Do you think such shows properly represent the risks associated with boxing?" Show less »
2. Vivienne Nathanson answer: "The BMA cannot comment on this programme. Generally, however, boxing is too often portrayed in a positive light, and as valuable for young people’s development. These programmes rarely deal with the harsh..." Show more»" The BMA cannot comment on this programme. Generally, however, boxing is too often portrayed in a positive light, and as valuable for young people’s development. These programmes rarely deal with the harsh realities of the serious health consequences that follow. The media has a tendency to glamorise combat sports with mention of the dangers only in the wake of tragic events. Sadly, changes to the legal status of boxing are unlikely to come in the current climate. Public conscience and opinion is moved by tragedy, and so while there are no high profile injuries, the chronic and acute damage caused by boxing will continue. The BMA, and national medical associations in many other countries will continue to educate and inform the public of the reality of brain injury risks associated with boxing. If you are repeatedly struck on the head your brain will be injured. Where’s the sport in that? "Show less«
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4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Sport   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 14 2007 9:15:57 AM

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