Getting active: tips to get started
More than 2 million deaths worldwide can be directly attributed to physical inactivity. According to the Heart Foundation in Australia 5.8 million adults don’t get enough exercise at the levels recommended to achieve health benefits. Add to this the fact that 7 million adult Australians are overweight and that 2 million of these are obese, and it’s obvious that we’re cooking up a recipe for a high level of cardiovascular disease.
Physical inactivity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but it’s one that we can usually do something about. Here are some tips for getting active and incorporating some active habits into your lifestyle.
- Leave the car at home and walk to your local shops and restaurants.
- Get off the train or bus a stop earlier and walk the extra distance home or to work.
- Park the car further away from the supermarket or movies.
- Use the stairs rather than the lift or escalator.
- Take a 15 or 30 minute walk during your lunch break.
- Organise a family picnic with a social game of cricket or a bush walk.
- Join a gym or take up a social sport.
- Choose activities you enjoy and vary them.
- Set yourself realistic goals and build upon them slowly.
- Get an exercise buddy: be active with your partner, friends or family.
- Break your 30 minutes or more of moderate activity into smaller amounts, for example 10 or 15 minute sessions.
During physical activity if you experience discomfort, chest pain, breathlessness or a rapid or irregular heart beat during activity stop immediately and seek medical advice.
| The physical benefits of exercise |
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Last Reviewed: 26 September 2002
