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How much physical exercise do we need to do?
Research shows that low levels of physical activity are associated with a wide range of factors that leads to lower levels of health.
How much physical activity do we need to do?
Physical activity guidelines for Australian adults1 are as follows:
- Doing any physical activity is better than doing none. If you currently do no physical activity, start by doing some, and gradually build up to the recommended amount.
- Be active on most, preferably all, days every week.
- Accumulate 150 to 300 minutes (2 ½ to 5 hours) of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes (1 ¼ to 2 ½ hours) of vigorous intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both moderate and vigorous activities, each week.
- Do muscle strengthening activities on at least 2 days each week.
But is this really enough activity? A study from Queensland suggests we may need to do five times the recommended amount of exercise!2 Given the average Australian does not meet the current guidelines, the best place to start is aiming for regular incidental activity during the day and several sessions a week of formal (get your heart rate up) type exercise for 30-60 minutes.
But how to fit that in your day? To get some tips click here
- http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/health-pubhlth-strateg-phys-act-guidelines#apaadult
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-10/australians-need-to-do-five-times-the-exercise-who-recommend/7711562
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