World Health Organisation's NEW recommendations for physical activity

Here is how the World Health Organisation's recommendations for physical activity have been updated very recently:

5-17 years old - WAS (2010 report) a minimum of 60 mins a day. Mostly aerobic, but incorporate vigorous activity 3 times a week.

NOW the same, just added to limit amount of sedentary screen time.

18-64 years old - WAS (2010) a minimum of 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week OR 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise per week. Resistance training to be performed at least twice a week.

NOW should do a minimum of 150-300 minutes of aerobic activity per week OR 75-150 minutes of more vigorous activity. Resistance training involving all major muscle groups should be performed at least twice a week. Should limit the amount of time being sedentary with physical activity of any intensity.

65 and above - WAS (2010) same as above for adults plus adults with poor mobility should perform physical activity to enhance balance and prevent falls at least 3 x a week. Plus resistance training twice a week at least.

NOW older adults should perform varied multi component physical activity that emphasizes functional balance and strength training at moderate intensity, 3 or more times a week.

The report has also added in guidelines for pregnant / postpartum women, people living with chronic conditions, children and adolescents living with a disability, adults living with a disability and included levels of physical activity globally:-

- More than 1 quarter of the world's adult population (1.4 billion adults) are insufficiently active.

- Worldwide, around 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men do not do enough activity to stay healthy.

- Levels of inactivity are twice as high in high income countries as low income countries.

- There has been no improvement in global levels of activity since 2001.

- The drop in physical activity is partly due to inaction during leisure time and sedentary behaviour on the job and at home. Likewise, an increase in the use of "passive" modes of transportation also contributes to insufficient physical activity.

Will this likely worsen now that more people than ever are working from home? Even though we may spend less time and money commuting to work, are people using that time to engage in physical activity? With information and resources more abundant than ever, will this help to change people's behaviours??

I would love to hear your thoughts! Please leave a comment below!!!

SOURCE:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity