Physical Activity Guidelines
The Health of the Nation Report (1994) revealed that 80% of the population were classified as inactive. The research showed obesity and coronary heart disease (CHD) to be on the increase. Both of these conditions can be positively managed by regular exercise, however, it was only in the 1992 Allied Dunbar Survey (ADS) that inactivity was identified as a serious risk factor for CHD.
The Health Education Authority (HEA, now called the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) produced the Active for life Campaign after having completed extensive research on the nation's physical activity in 1992.

The findings from HEA 1995 and ADS 1992 (relate to men and women, ages 16 to 74 years):

	Most adults believe they do enough exercise to keep fit
	70% of men and 80% of women are not active enough to benefit their health
	90% adults believe that it is fairly important to exercise regularly yet only 40% do it
	80% were not aware of how much to do
	2/3 of women and 1/3 of men found it difficult to walk briskly up a slight slope for a while
	1/3 of men and 1/2 of women aged between 65 and 74 do not have sufficient muscle strength or power to lift 50% of their body weight, making everyday movements difficult - such as getting up from a chair without using their arms

Active People Survey 2008/09
"One Million" Sports participation indicator
At the heart of the Sport England Strategy 2008-11 is a commitment to getting one million people taking part in more sport by 2012-13. The sports participation indicator measures the number of adults (aged 16 and over) participating in at least 30 minutes of sport at moderate intensity at least three times a week. Sport England's progress towards this target is measured by the Active People Survey.

Consistent with Sport England's strategic focus, the one million target is based on a sports participation indicator that includes a narrower range of activities than other sport and active recreation indicators reported by Active People such as NI8, the national indicator for local government.

Full results from the latest four quarters of the survey (rolling 12 months), January 2009 to January 2010, can be downloaded HERE. These include a summary of headline results from the period January 2009-January 2010 (Active People Survey rolling 12 month results), for adult sport participation, at least three sessions a week, 30 minutes, moderate intensity (the 'one million sport indicator').

Good News!
During the 12 months to January 2010 7.00 million adults (aged 16 and over) participated in sport three times a week for 30 minutes at moderate intensity (16.6% of the adult population in England). This is an increase of 186,000 adult participants from 2007/08 when 6.815 million adults (aged 16 and over) participated in sport three times a week for 30 minutes at moderate intensity (16.4%).

This indicates further progress has been made since the increase observed between the first Active People Survey 1 (2005/6) and the second Active People Survey 2 (2006/07). In 2005/06, 6.295 million adults (aged 16 and over) participated in sport three times a week for 30 minutes at moderate intensity (15.5%).

Exercise Recommendation
As individuals vary, there is no single recommendation. For several years, recommendations have highlighted the need for vigorous activity at 60% - 90% of Maximum Heart Rate (MHR), for twenty minutes, three times a week. These recommendations are still valid in terms of health and fitness benefits but most people will not keep to them. This is generally because the work rate is seen as too high and the recommendations as too prescriptive. It may suit those who are maintaining an active lifestyle but is unlikely to appeal to those who are just thinking about or are preparing to change their lifestyle in relation to their activity levels.

Exercise and exercise success need redefining to include small increases in everyday lifestyle activity. The two recommendations listed below provided by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) re aimed at appealing to the majority of the population who do not take part in regular activity. They need to be encouraged to make moderate physical activity part of their daily routine.

To reduce mortality (ACSM, 1998)
Frequency	5-7 sessions / week
Intensity	50-90% of Maximum Heart Rate (MHR)
Time	30 minutes in total
Type	Rhythmical use of large muscles

It should be stresses that 50% of MHR is acceptable and often advisable. The activity should make the person warm and slightly out of breath. Also, activity can be broken down into smaller sessions of not less than eight minutes at a time, for example, three sessions of ten minutes.

To maximise aerobic fitness and reduce mortality (ACSM, 1990)
Frequency	3-5 sessions / week
Intensity	60-90% of Maximum Heart Rate (MHR)
Time	20-60 minutes
Type	Continual, rhythmical use of large muscle groups

Activity Definitions:
Light Activity:	Little or no exertion and normally does not cause a noticeable change in breathing.
Moderate Activity:	Requires sustained, rhythmical muscular movements at least the equivalent of brisk walking and leaves a person feeling warm and slightly out of breath.
Vigorous Activity:	Requires sustained, large muscle movements at 60 to 70% or more of maximum heart rate, a level that makes a person sweaty and out of breath.

THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF LEVELS OF INTENSITY OF ACTIVITIES:

	Moderate:		Vigorous:
	Cycling for pleasure		Running at 5mph
	Step machine		Hockey
	Rowing		Hard cycling
	Fly fishing		Circuit training
	Walking briskly / Power walking		Hill walking
	Cricket		Skipping
	Golf		Stair climbing
	Swimming		Cross country skiing
	Gardening		Rock climbing
	Mowing the lawn		Squash
	Badminton		Tennis

Benefits
It is important to help people to understand that the benefits are not all physical but can be psychological, social and maybe even spiritual. You cannot guarantee that everyone will experience all the benefits. However, being physically active will counter the effects of inactivity and therefore, can only be seen in a positive light.

Regular participation in physical activity is associated with numerous physical and psychological benefits. In its guidelines on physical activity and health, the American College of Sports Medicine concluded that every adult should accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1996, additional health benefits can be gained through regular participation in activity that is of longer duration or of more vigorous intensity. And it should be stressed that many of the beneficial effects of exercise
may diminish within two weeks if exercise is substantially reduced, and the benefits will disappear in 2 to 8 months if exercise is not resumed.