Keeping healthy and active

Even a little bit of activity can lower the risk of developing major chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, some cancers and type two diabetes, by up to 50%. It can also cut the risk of premature death by about 20% to 30%.

The benefits of physical activity include:

Around 1,000 people a week die from obesity-related conditions.

All movement contributes to your activity levels. But for many people, up to 60 minutes of moderate activity a day may be necessary to maintain a healthy weight. This means that each of us needs to think about increasing the types of activities that work for our lifestyle and can easily be built into our day. 

For some, it may be walking a bit brisker with the kids on the way to and from school or cycling to and from work.

For others, taking part in a more structured activity like a dance class or a gym session a few times a week may be the most practical way of keeping fit and building activity into a daily routine.

Every little helps and the recommended 30 minutes of moderate activity at least five times a week can be done in 10 to 15 minute blocks. 

Physical activity can also boost mental wellbeing and change your outlook on life. It can help people with anxiety and depression, and might even prevent such problems from developing in the first place.

Research shows that walking 10,000 steps a day will significantly improve your health. Putting one foot in front of the other can build stamina, burn excess calories and give you a healthier heart. 

Walking 10,000 steps a day can burn around 500 calories, depending on your weight and how fast you walk. As you need to burn 3,500 calories to lose 500g (1lb) of body fat, you'll notice that walking 10,000 steps a day will burn 500g (1lb) of body fat a week.


So what’s the best way to start?
Get a pedometer and use it to find out how many steps you already take during a normal day. It could be as little as 900 or as many as 5,000, depending on what you do. People who use public transport sometimes tend to walk more than people who drive to their destination. Record your total number of steps each day for a week or so. Log the numbers in a diary every night to keep track. As soon as you feel ready, try to increase your steps each day until you reach 10,000 a day.

To find out more and start taking the 10,000 step challenge and visit the NHS Choices Website, Click here.

Updated 17/03/2009