|
Middle aged health at risk as over
850,000 adults do not manage a brisk 10 minute walk each month
OVER 850,000 adults aged 40 to 60 in the
North West do not achieve 10 minutes of continuous brisk walking over the course
of a month and are missing out on important health benefits, according to
evidence reviewed by Public Health England (PHE).
The findings also reveal how lifestyles have changed over time, showing that
people in the UK are 20% less active now than they were in the 1960s and on
average walk 15 miles less a year than 2 decades ago. The sedentary nature of
modern, busy lives makes it difficult for many to find the time for enough
exercise to benefit their health.
PHE's new 'One You' physical activity campaign is encouraging adults to build 10
minutes continuous brisk walking into their day as a simple way to improve their
health. This is particularly aimed at those who have an inactive or low activity
lifestyle and may find incorporating activity into their day challenging. The
'Active 10' app has been developed to show how much brisk walking a person is doing
each day and how to incorporate more of it into their lifestyles.
Meeting the CMO's physical activity guidance of 150 minutes of moderate to
vigorous exercise can provide health benefits including a lowered risk of type 2
diabetes (by 40%), cardiovascular disease (by 35%), dementia (by 30%) and some
cancers (by 20%). Taking at least 1 brisk 10 minute walk a day has been shown to
reduce the risk of early death by 15%.
The severity of the current physical inactivity epidemic amongst adults
contributes to 1 in 6 deaths in the UK and is costing the NHS over ₤900 million
per year.
Julie Webster, acting Director of Health and Wellbeing, Wirral Council said:-
"It can be hard to change our habits, but walking just 10 minutes a day at a
brisk pace can have enormous health benefits and is good for your overall
wellbeing as well. We welcome the launch of Active10 app as a tool to help users
set achievable goals and gradually build up their activity."
Cllr Chris Jones, Wirral's Cabinet Member for Public Health said:- "It is
worrying that so many 40 to 60 year olds across the North West are not doing 10
minutes brisk walk a month. Our busy lives often mean that our own health is at
the bottom of our list of priorities. What's great about walking is that it can
so easily fit in to your day. Whether it's taking the dog out, walking on the
School run or going for a lunchtime walk, it's 1 of the simplest ways to get
started and fit activity in to your day."
Search 'Active 10' to download the free app which shows how much brisk
walking you are currently doing and provides tips and encouragement on how to
fit 10 minute bursts of brisk walking into your daily routine.
|
