Are you doing enough to keep fit?

Exercise is good for our brain and body, but how much should we do to gain these great benefits?

The Australian Government provides physical activity guidelines for all ages based on evidence about the health impacts.

It is recommended adults aged 18-64 do a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity, five or more days per week. The activity should be of moderate intensity, which means your heart beats faster but you are not breathless. Further to this, it is recommended that adults do muscle strengthening activities at least two days each week. This could include carrying or moving heavy objects, or exercises that use your body weight as resistance such as pushups.

For adults over 65, at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity is recommended on most, if not all days. Older adults should aim to be active every day in as many ways as possible, no matter their age, weight, health problems or abilities.

Statistics from the Social Health Atlas of Australia suggest that 69% of adults over 18 in the Naracoorte Lucindale District are not meeting physical activity guidelines. Further to this, 71.1% of South Australians over 65 are not meeting these guidelines.

Ask yourself – are you meeting the physical activity guidelines? 

If you aren’t, don’t worry. The good news is that you can start small and gradually build up how much activity you do. Any physical activity is better than none, and just doing a little more than you do now will be helpful.

For the full version of the guidelines, go to https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-phys-act-guidelines