Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 December 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 3 December 2009. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 December 2009 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Exercise

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the effects of regular exercise on the health of people aged (a) 18 to 25, (b) 26 to 49, (c) 50 to 69 and (d) 70 years old and more.

Answer: The Chief Medical Officer's report "At least five a week"—Evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health sets out the evidence for the health benefits of regular physical activity for children and adolescents, adults and older adults. It was published in 2004 and a copy of the report has already been placed in the Library.To take in to account more recent research, the Department is currently working with Welsh Assembly Government, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland and NHS Health Scotland to review the existing United Kingdom recommendations for the "dose" of physical activity required for general health benefits.

Secondary information