In October, Public Health England published Everybody active, every day: An evidence-based approach to physical activity. The report calls for creating a cultural change to be more active, with a 4 pronged approach:
- Active Society: creating a social movement
- Moving professionals: activating networks of expertise
- Active environments: creating the right spaces
- Moving at scale: scaling up interventions that make us active
The report highlights the startling fact that only ‘21% of boys and 16% of girls aged 5-15 achieve recommended levels of physical activity’, along with the fact that a quarter of children in the UK are obese or overweight.
The chief medical officer’s guidelines on physical activity for five to 18 years is that they should engage in physical activity consisting of moderate to vigorous intensity for at least 60 minutes every day, with vigorous activity which will strengthen muscle and bone to be included 3 days a week. Minimising the amount of time being sedentary was also in the guidelines.
Physical Education is an important factor in keeping pupils active and developing a positive attitude towards taking part in sport and activities so that they will continue partaking in physical activity throughout their adult life.
