Getting active for summer

A national campaign from Public Health England designed to get people active over the summer months, starting with just 10 minutes brisk walking a day, is being backed by the county council

Public Health England (PHE) is encouraging adults to download the free “Active 10’’ app to help them to complete 10 minutes of brisk walking every day and to build this up gradually to multiple “Active 10s’’. The app is the first of its kind to show someone how much brisk walking they are doing and whether they are doing it at a high enough intensity and for long enough to get health benefits.

Councillor Caroline Dickinson, Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Supported Housing, said: “In North Yorkshire, over 60 per cent of adults are classed as overweight or obese, and around one in five adults say they take less than 30 minutes of physical activity each week.

“These figures are slightly better than the average across England, but we are working with PHE to encourage even more people to take charge of their weight and enjoy the health benefits it brings.

“The good news is, brisk walking counts as a form of intense physical activity and just 10 minutes a day can make a huge difference to your health, both in the short and long term. It gets the heart pumping faster, and can make you feel better, more energetic and improve your mood.’’

The app is free to use, search for “Active 10’’ online to find out more and to download it.