Ways to get active
Being physically active every day can help to maintain a healthy weight can prevent a range of physical and mental illness as well as reduce or delay physical limitations in later life.
There are many ways everyone can build physical activity into their lives. Being physically active is easier than you think, especially if you make activity part of your daily routine.
Guidelines for being physically active
Being physically active every day can help to maintain a healthy weight improve sleep, prevent a range of physical and mental illness and disease including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, depression and anxiety and reduce or delay physical limitations in later life.
The chief medical officer recommends the following guidelines for how much physical activity people should be doing:
- under 5 year olds: at least 180 minutes per day
- 15 to 18 year olds: at least 60 minutes per day
- 19 to 64 year olds: at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity per week in bouts of 10 minutes
- 65 year olds and older: 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity per week in bouts of 10 minutes
- For examples of physical activity that meets the guidelines visit GOV.UK - UK physical activity guidelines.
The NHS has information about exercise guidelines and workouts to help improve your fitness and wellbeing, find out more here: Exercise - NHS