HEALTH PROMOTION BOARD LAUNCHES NATIONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES

Get Active, Aim for 150 Minutes a Week, Anytime, Anywhere, to be Healthy

• Aiming for 150 minutes of physical activity per week can provide substantial health benefits for adults and older adults. However, it is important to note that even some physical activity is better than none, and more is better than some. These are the latest recommendations of the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) National Physical Activity (PA) Guidelines. The guidelines have been developed with the counsel of the National Physical Activity Consensus Group, which comprises both local and international experts in the fields of health promotion and physical activity.

• Health benefits of regular physical activity include a 20 - 50% reduced risk of premature death, incidence of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, stroke, high blood pressure, colon cancer and breast cancer, to name just a few.

• Aside from the weekly goal of 150 minutes of lifestyle activity and aerobic activity, for additional health benefits, strength activities must be done on two or more days a week. Strength activities include muscle-,bone- and joint-strengthening activities (such as lifestyle strength training activities - washing the car, mopping the floor, taking the stairs and carrying groceries) and some mind body exercises (Tai Chi, Health Qigong, Yoga, Pilates). Strength activities should involve major muscle groups

Health Promotion Board