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Improve your health in just 10 minutes
Improve your health in just 10 minutes
Incorporating just 10 minutes of continuous brisk walking into your day is a simple way to improve your health.
Over 740,000 adults aged 40-60 in the East of England do not achieve 10 minutes of continuous brisk walking over the course of a month and are missing out on health benefits, according to evidence reviewed by Public Health England.
The findings also reveal how lifestyles have changed over time, showing that people in the UK are 20% less active now than they were in the 1960s and on average walk 15 miles less a year than two decades ago. The sedentary nature of modern, busy lives makes it difficult for many to find the time for enough exercise to benefit their health.
Taking at least one brisk 10 minute walk each day has been shown to reduce the risk of early death by 15%. This can lead to health benefits including a lowered risk of type 2 diabetes (by 40%), cardiovascular disease (by 35%), dementia (by 30%) and some cancers (by 20%).
Barbara Paterson, Deputy Director for Health and Wellbeing at PHE East of England, said: “We know that 27 per cent of adults in the East of England are achieving less than 30 minutes of physical activity per week. We also know that inactivity can lead to a whole host of health implications. But simply incorporating regular 10 minute brisk walks into everyone’s day can make a world of difference to both health, as well as general wellbeing. Plus, it is free! What could be better!”
A free 'Active 10' app is now available and combines walking intensity and time, rather than just distance or steps and is the first of its kind. It helps people gradually introduce more activity into their daily routine, with goal setting advice and motivational tips. It has already helped 50,000 adults get more active.
Find out more at www.nhs.uk/oneyou/active10