Food & Health Alliance

This presentation focuses on the UK Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults aged 16-64 years and provides an overview of the evidence underpining the draft guidelines. 

Draft Recommendations for Adults aged 16-64 Years

Volume and Pattern:

The UK guidelines should encourage regular physical activity of at least 150 minutes per week. This total volume of physical activity should be spread across the week, 5 x 30 is one example of how this volume can be achieved.

The UK Physical Activity Guidelines for adults should recognize that vigorous-intensity activity also provides health benefits for adults, and that 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity (also spread across the week) provides comparable health benefits to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity.

Muscle Strength:

The UK Physical Activity Guidelines for adults should include a specific recommendation to undertake muscle strengthening activities involving the major muscle groups of the body on two or more days per week. Time spent undertaking muscle strengthening activities should be in addition to the primary recommendation of 150 minutes.

Although there is currently insufficient evidence to determine an optimal regimen for this muscle strengthening activity, an example of a regimen that has been shown to be beneficial should be included in the explanatory guidance that accompanies the guidelines.

Flexibility:

The UK guidelines for adults and older adults should recognise the benefits of physical activity in improving flexibility but no specific quantification or recommendation on type frequency duration or total volume should be attempted as there is insufficient evidence.

Weight Lose and Maintenance:

The UK Physical Activity Guidelines for adults should emphasise the health benefits of activity for those adults who are already overweight or obese. They should indicate that overweight and obese adults achieving the recommended weekly volume of activity (5 x 30/ 150 minutes/week) will gain multiple health benefits even in the absence of reductions in body weight.

The UK Physical Activity Guidelines for adults should recognise that physical activity has an important role in healthy weight management and body composition. They should also indicate that attaining a healthy weight may require an additional amount of activity beyond the primary recommendation of 150 mins/week and/or include a decrease in caloric intake through dietary modifications.