Why be active?
Being physically active and limiting your time spent sitting every day is essential for your health and well-being.
Regular physical activity can
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Make you feel good and improve your self-esteem and confidence creating opportunities to socialise and meet new people
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Reduce stress and anxiety, help you sleep better and help prevent and manage mental health problems
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Maintain and /or improve your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels
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Reduce your risk of some cancers
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Help prevent unhealthy weight gain and assist with weight loss
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Help you to build strong bones, muscles and joints and help you manage your pain
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Improve your posture, mobility and balance and reduce the risk of falling and injury
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Maintain your ability to do the things you want and need to do.
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Guidelines recommend at least 30 mins of moderate intensity physical activity (such as brisk walking) on most days.
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It can be particular hard for people who have difficulty walking to meet these guidelines.
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The ComeBACK study is helping people with difficulty walking to be more active.
There are many opportunities to sit in our daily lives. The key is finding opportunities to move and doing any physical activity is better than doing none.
Learn more about the importance of exercise
Department of Health -Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour
Choose Health: Be Active - A Physical Activities Guide for Older Australians
Active and Healthy - Exercise programs in your area plus tools and information
Diabetes Australia - Information on exercise
Heart Foundation - Keeping your heart healthy
MS Australia - Exercise and activity as part of wellbeing
Osteoporosis Australia - Information on exercise
Cancer Council - Importance of exercise for cancer patients
Arthritis SA - Importance of physical activity