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| Middle-aged told to walk faster | Middle-aged told to walk faster |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Middle-aged people are being urged to walk faster to help stay healthy, amid concern high levels of inactivity may be harming their health. | Middle-aged people are being urged to walk faster to help stay healthy, amid concern high levels of inactivity may be harming their health. |
| Officials at Public Health England said the amount of activity people did started to tail off from the age of 40. | Officials at Public Health England said the amount of activity people did started to tail off from the age of 40. |
| They are urging those between the ages of 40 and 60 to start doing regular brisk walks. | They are urging those between the ages of 40 and 60 to start doing regular brisk walks. |
| Just 10 minutes a day could have a major impact, reducing the risk of early death by 15%, they say. | |
| But PHE estimates four out of every 10 40- to 60-year-olds do not even manage a brisk 10-minute walk each month. | |
| To help, the government agency is promoting a free app - Active 10 - which can monitor the amount of brisk walking an individual does and provide tips on how to incorporate more into the daily routine. | To help, the government agency is promoting a free app - Active 10 - which can monitor the amount of brisk walking an individual does and provide tips on how to incorporate more into the daily routine. |
| PHE deputy medical director Dr Jenny Harries said: "I know first hand that juggling priorities of everyday life often means exercise takes a back seat. | PHE deputy medical director Dr Jenny Harries said: "I know first hand that juggling priorities of everyday life often means exercise takes a back seat. |
| "But walking to the shops instead of driving, or going for a brisk 10-minute walk on your lunch break each day, can add many healthy years to your life." | "But walking to the shops instead of driving, or going for a brisk 10-minute walk on your lunch break each day, can add many healthy years to your life." |
| How walking transformed my life | How walking transformed my life |
| Maureen Ejimofor, 44, started taking regular walks three years ago in a bid to improve her health. | Maureen Ejimofor, 44, started taking regular walks three years ago in a bid to improve her health. |
| At the time, she weighed 18 stone and wanted to make a change. Within seven months, she had lost nearly five stone. | At the time, she weighed 18 stone and wanted to make a change. Within seven months, she had lost nearly five stone. |
| She joined a local organised walking group in Kent and loved it so much she ended up becoming a walk leader in charge of taking groups of people out at the weekend. | She joined a local organised walking group in Kent and loved it so much she ended up becoming a walk leader in charge of taking groups of people out at the weekend. |
| She has been using the Active 10 app and encourages others to do the same, describing it as "really useful" in persuading users to get a "burst" of brisk walking into their day. | She has been using the Active 10 app and encourages others to do the same, describing it as "really useful" in persuading users to get a "burst" of brisk walking into their day. |
| Another walking fan is Liam Quigley, who has just turned 60. | Another walking fan is Liam Quigley, who has just turned 60. |
| "My parents used to take us out walking all the time," he says. | "My parents used to take us out walking all the time," he says. |
| "But unfortunately as I got older, I got a taste for the finer things in life, so I used to drink quite a bit, eat some of the wrong stuff. I actually put a lot of weight on. | "But unfortunately as I got older, I got a taste for the finer things in life, so I used to drink quite a bit, eat some of the wrong stuff. I actually put a lot of weight on. |
| "I like walking, and I decided to do something about it." | "I like walking, and I decided to do something about it." |
| Mr Quigley joined Stockport Walkers and now takes 10-mile hikes. | Mr Quigley joined Stockport Walkers and now takes 10-mile hikes. |
| "Since I joined, I've lost two stone. It's had a good effect on me," he says. | "Since I joined, I've lost two stone. It's had a good effect on me," he says. |
| GPs are also being encouraged to get their patients walking faster - defined as a walk of at least 3mph that leaves you breathing faster and increases your heart rate. | GPs are also being encouraged to get their patients walking faster - defined as a walk of at least 3mph that leaves you breathing faster and increases your heart rate. |
| Dr Zoe Williams, of the Royal College of GPs, said: "Every GP should talk to their patients about the benefits of brisk walking and recommend the Active 10 app." | Dr Zoe Williams, of the Royal College of GPs, said: "Every GP should talk to their patients about the benefits of brisk walking and recommend the Active 10 app." |
| PHE is focusing on those in middle age, because of the drop in activity levels. | PHE is focusing on those in middle age, because of the drop in activity levels. |
| It is recommended that people do 150 minutes of activity a week, but nearly half of those aged 40 to 60 fail to achieve that and one in five does less than 30 minutes. | It is recommended that people do 150 minutes of activity a week, but nearly half of those aged 40 to 60 fail to achieve that and one in five does less than 30 minutes. |
| While a daily 10-minute brisk walk will not get them to the recommended level, it will be enough to start making a difference to high blood pressure, diabetes, weight issues, depression and anxiety and musculoskeletal problems such as lower back pain. | While a daily 10-minute brisk walk will not get them to the recommended level, it will be enough to start making a difference to high blood pressure, diabetes, weight issues, depression and anxiety and musculoskeletal problems such as lower back pain. |
| PHE also hopes by getting this age group active it will have a knock-on effect among those who have children. | PHE also hopes by getting this age group active it will have a knock-on effect among those who have children. |
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| Are you aged between 40 and 60 and fit in ten minutes of activity per day? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you aged between 40 and 60 and fit in ten minutes of activity per day? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |