Whether its having sex, doing the gardening or taking the stairs, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) is urging people to get moving in its latest campaign.
Backed by celebrities, the 30 a Day campaign features light-hearted posters showing the different ways people can build activity into their daily lives such as washing the car or going for a swim.
The campaign targets the over 50s and urges them to get active now, in any way they choose, so that they can maintain their independence in later life.
The move comes as a YouGov survey of UK adults aged 50-64 showed that almost a third of respondents said lack of time was the reason for their inactivity.
However, three out of four said they would prefer to watch TV, read or use the computer if they had a spare 30 minutes in the day.
Dr Mike Knapton, director of prevention and care at BHF said: “Keeping fit doesn’t have to mean sweating it out at the gym and it’s never too late to start.”
“We can all make excuses, but at the end of the day it’s up to individuals to make the change, to get up and to get active. Just 30 minutes a day can make all the difference.”
More than 2,000 posters will go up and over 2.5m leaflets will be delivered to households across the UK as part of the campaign. A website (www. bhf.org.uk/30aday) also gives details of practical and fun ways to become physically active.
Meanwhile, the charity is urging the fitness industry, government, health professionals and employers to work more closely to help get the over 50s active.
It calls for health and fitness operators to run more sessions for the over 50s, doctors to routinely refer patients to physical activity programmes, local authorities to build safe and ‘walkable’ towns and businesses to invest in activity schemes for older staff.
