New physical activity guidelines have been published by the UK’s four chief medical officers.
The Start active, stay active guidelines outline a more flexible approach for adults to build up to their recommended 150 minutes of activity a week, suggesting a number of sessions of 10 minutes or more every day are a good way to start, or 30 minutes five times a week.
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It has put more emphasis on vigorous activity and muscle strengthening through, for example, heavy gardening, group sports such as volleyball and basketball, or swimming, plus reducing and minimising periods of sedentary behaviour.
England chief medical officer Sally Davies said: “The latest figures show that almost a quarter of adults are obese and, on current trends, by 2050 it means nine in 10 adults will be overweight or obese.”