The benefits of being active for physical and mental health are huge. Being active helps release chemicals in your brain (endorphins), which have a positive effect on your mood, not to mention the benefits to your heart, lungs, muscles and bones. Getting out and being active is also a great way to manage stress. Physical activity is for everyone.
Regular physical activity can help you reduce the risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. For children and young people being active helps reduce their risk of developing these diseases in later life too. Increased levels of physical activity will help reduce body fat and maintain a healthy weight.
Being active is fun for all the family. Research shows that children whose parents are active are more than 5 times as likely to be active than those whose parents are not.
For more health benefits, you should increase your aerobic activity to 60 minutes a day of moderate activity 5 days a week. Any level of activity is better for health than none!
HOW ACTIVE SHOULD I BE?
Children and young people: At least 60 minutes moderate intensity activity daily. All activity no matter how short counts
Children and young people with disabilities : At least 60 minutes moderate intensity activity or as much as ability allows daily. All activity no matter how short counts
Adults: At least 30 minutes moderate intensity activity 5 days a week. Short bouts of at least 10 minutes can be accumulated
People with disabilities : At least 30 minutes moderate intensity activity, or as much as ability allows 5 days a week. Short bouts of at least 10 minutes can be accumulated
Older people: At least 30 minutes moderate intensity activity, or as much as ability allows 5 days a week. Short bouts of at least 10 minutes can be accumulated
We run various programmes throughout the year that can help you get active. Check them out below . . .
Article Modified: February 26, 2019 9:50 am
