Australians are sitting down and lying around so much, experts have doubled the recommended amount of exercise and say we need to get up out of our chairs - even if we already do "enough" exercise.
More and more studies are finding links between "sedentary behaviour" and weight gain, type 2 diabetes, poor muscle tone, heart disease and dying earlier. The new guidelines are the first to explicitly address our love of lounging and our habit of sitting at work.
The latest advice is to 'mix and match' a range of activities, and to think of exercise as simple habits that can be built into your day, rather than organised sport or structured activities like going to the gym. Use the interactive illustration below to see how moving more can change your life.
The guidelines are here: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/ ... guidelines
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.
Accumulate 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both moderate and vigorous activities, each week.
Be active on most, preferably all, days every week.
Do muscle strengthening activities on at least two days each week.
Minimise the amount of time spent in prolonged sitting. Break up long periods of sitting as often as possible.
Looks like a good move to me, I wonder if many Australians will take heed? According to an interview with Prof Wendy Brown on the ABC link above, about 25% of Australians currently meet the new guidelines and about 50% met the old guidelines.
I currently walk in varied terrain for at least an hour each day of the week. Some of that might rate as vigorous but most is moderate. I figure I should be good until the next review.
