Physical activity guidelines

The UK physical activity guidelines are published jointly by the four UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) they cover the whole population with recommendations specific to different age groups – early years, children and young people, adults and older adults.

These guidelines have a focus on being active every day and advise the recommended minimum levels of activity for each age group. The flexibility of the guidelines creates ways to achieve the health benefits of an active lifestyle, while retaining a strong link to previous recommendations. For all age groups, they highlight the risks of excessive sedentary behaviour, which exist independently of any overall volume of physical activity.