Day: July 12, 2026

Regular physical activity adds up to real health benefits

Whether it’s a walk to the shops or taking the stairs, regular physical activity adds up to real health benefits ‍♀️‍➡️

The UK Chief Medical Officers have refreshed their Physical Activity Guidelines for adults to reflect new evidence on how moving more improves your health:

https://www.gov.uk/…/physical-activity-guidelines-uk…

The benefits of physical activity at all stages of life for health

Professor Chris Whitty writes for The i paper on the update to the UK CMOs’ physical activity guidelines

Almost everybody reading this will be aware in broad terms that physical activity is good for health. To exercise more is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions in the UK according to surveys.

Quite how good it is for physical and mental health has however become steadily clearer from multiple studies over the last few years, and the evidence base in both men and women is now very robust. Among the diseases physical activity makes less common, delays or prevents are coronary heart disease, stroke, dementia, diabetes, breast cancer and bowel cancer, arthritis and depression.

The UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) have just updated their main physical activity guidelines to reflect the new data. 

We have made clearer that for those who do almost no physical activity even small amounts will significantly improve their overall physical and mental health, and this increases rapidly with every increment of activity up to 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, with the benefits increasing more slowly after that.

Do not therefore be put off if you think you cannot make 150 minutes – make a start and see how you go. Every extra bit will benefit you.

In addition to this general improvement in health, it is important to do things which maintain strength and balance. As we age we all lose muscle mass – keeping strength and balance into older age can be the difference between an active and independent later life and earlier frailty and dependency.

Since the last time CMOs reviewed the guidelines many people have started GLP-1 agonist drugs for diabetes and weight loss and it is important those taking the drugs concentrate on strength as weight decreases to protect muscle.

Physical activity is far more likely to be sustained if it is either useful, enjoyable or both and ideally built into a routine. Active transport including walking, cycling and wheeling; all sports; gyms and running; and dancing are examples of the wide range of activity that help.

Whether it is in groups, with friends or alone, if it works for you it is a good thing to do – and mid-July is often a lot easier to start than the beginning of January.

Residents asked to share views on Community Payback Orders

A consultation is now open inviting Edinburgh residents to share their views on Community Payback Orders and the unpaid work carried out in their area.

Last year alone, just under 50,000 hours of unpaid work was completed in Edinburgh – equivalent to over 6,000 working days. Projects supported over the last year include:

  • Gyle Park Pavilion – Improvement work to the appearance of Gyle Park Pavilion and the car park. This included repainting exterior doors and step bannisters to cover up unpleasant graffiti and work in the car park to clear vegetation in the car park drainage channels.
  • The Ferry Road project – The unpaid work team helped clear areas in the community blighted by rubbish and fly tipping. The work had a big impact on the local environment making a previously heavily littered area useable and accessible.
  • Leith Theatre – The unpaid work women’s group cleared the outdoor space at Leith Theatre. This included weeding, gardening and pruning trees to make the area safe and accessible.

Edinburgh residents are encouraged to share their views on the unpaid work part of a CPO, which replaced community service in 2011. We want to know:

  • Do you have any experience of people doing unpaid work in your community?
  • Do you think unpaid work gives people the opportunity to repay the community for the crimes they have committed?
  • Do you have any ideas about residents, community projects or organisations who could benefit from unpaid work support?

CPOs are given by the Court to enable people to make amends for their crimes as an alternative to a prison sentence, with communities putting forward ideas to their local authority for the unpaid work carried out where they live.

Council Leader and Chair of the Edinburgh Partnership Jane Meagher, said: “Community Payback Orders (CPOs) offer an alternative and more positive way for people to repay locally for crimes committed.

“We know that CPOs are mutually beneficial to both the individual and the wider community. For those completing a CPO, they have the chance to learn new skills, work as part of a team, and make a positive contribution to society.

“This year alone, with just under 50,000 hours of unpaid work carried out, we’ve seen a real difference to communities with previously unused or neglected areas transformed and, in some cases, put back into use.

“I encourage all Edinburgh residents to take the opportunity to have their say on the future of unpaid work and how it could benefit their local community in the future.”

Share your views here.