Author(s): Justin Healey (Editor)

Education

Only about a third of children and under half of
adults are meeting Australia¿s Physical Activity and
Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines. Most children
exceed the recommended amount of screen-based
activity time, while time spent sitting at leisure
goes up in adults as they get older. Inactivity increases overweight and obesity, raising the risk of chronic and lifethreatening diseases like cardiovascular disease, dementia, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Regular physical activity not only reduces health risks, it improves social and emotional health and wellbeing. Which groups ofinactive Australians are most at risk of lifestyle-related illness? What levelsand types of activity are required for optimal health at each life stage, and
how can we incorporate regular activity into our daily lives? This book explains the risks and consequences of physical inactivity, and in turn promotes the benefits of being active. It¿s time to move it, or lose it.