"In 2010, we were among the first Nations in the world to set out the evidence for how much and what kinds of physical activity we need to do to keep ourselves healthy. Since then, the evidence has become more compelling and the message is clear: "If physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure, due to the great many illnesses it can prevent and help treat.” Physical activity is not just a health issue. It brings people together to enjoy shared activities and contributes to building strong communities whilst supporting the economy to grow. These physical activity guidelines update the 2011 guidelines across all age groups. We have also drawn on new evidence to develop additional guidance on being active during pregnancy and after giving birth, and for disabled adults. We want as many people as possible to make use of these guidelines to work towards and achieve the recommended activity levels. With that in mind, we have developed updated infographics to help bring these guidelines to life and make them easy for everyone to use. Being active every day provides a foundation for a healthier and happier life. The recommendations we made in 2011 on muscle strength have not achieved the recognition we believe they merit. We therefore want to underline the importance of regular strength and balance activities: being strong makes all movement easier and increases our ability to perform normal daily tasks. We want this report to be a catalyst for change in our attitudes to physical activity. Our environment can make it difficult to be healthy and our health is being damaged by inactivity. But the good news is that even small changes can make a big difference over time, such as using the stairs for a couple of floors rather than taking the lift or getting off the bus a stop early and walking the rest of the way. You always feel better for being active. We want as many people as possible to protect their future health and start their journey to a healthier life now. September 2019"
Read this research paper in full →Link opens in a new window