CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Obesity - Management
What advice should I give about physical activity?
- Any advice given about exercise activities and duration should consider the person's current physical fitness and ability. If appropriate, encourage the person to:
- Reduce the amount of time they spend being inactive (e.g. watching television).
- Do at least 30 minutes of at least moderate intensity exercise on 5 days a week or more (in one session, or split into a number of sessions).
- Build up to the recommended levels for weight maintenance, using a managed approach with agreed goals.
- Recommended types of physical activity include:
- Activities that can be incorporated into everyday life, e.g. brisk walking, gardening, or cycling.
- Supervised exercise programmes.
- Other activities (e.g. swimming or stair climbing).
In depth
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement