10th July 2026
New physical activity guidelines emphasise importance of moving more - no matter how small
Every movement – no matter how small – counts for better health.
This is the message that the UK Chief Medical Officers have announced today as they refresh the Physical Activity Guidelines.
Evidence shows that building activity into everyday routines can have significant benefits for people’s physical and mental health.
The updated guidance reflects the latest scientific evidence on physical activity and sedentary behaviour and finds that existing recommended activity levels across all age groups remain accurate.
Findings include a renewed emphasis on the health benefits of light-intensity activity, reducing prolonged sitting, and incorporating strength and balance exercises into everyday life.
Physical activity – the ‘miracle cure’
The UK CMOs, Professor Chris Whitty, Professor Michael McBride, Professor Gregor Smith and Professor Isabel Oliver, said: “Evidence continues to show that if physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure, due to the great many illnesses it can prevent or treat.
“It is now clear that even small amounts of physical activity produce important benefits compared to none, and the benefits steadily increase up to the recommended 150 minutes a week.
“New evidence also highlights the benefits of physical activity for health far outweigh the risks in many groups who might be concerned about this, including for people living with disability and most long-term conditions.”
What the guidelines cover
The guidelines cover all stages of life, including children and young people, adults, older adults, disabled people and women during pregnancy and after birth.
New things that have been flagged include the importance of maintaining muscle strength for those on GLP-1 agonist drugs to combat obesity and diabetes.
It also emphasises the positive effects of physical activity in women, and how regular physical activity plays an important role in reducing the risk of a range of many long-term conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers, while also supporting good mental health and wellbeing.
By helping people build movement into everyday life, the refreshed guidance supports the government’s ambition to shift healthcare from treating illness to preventing it.
The refreshed guidance also recognises that physical activity does not need to take place in long or structured sessions to have a positive impact.
Walking to the shops, wheeling, taking the stairs, dancing, gardening, active play and household tasks can all contribute towards improving health when carried out regularly.
Families encouraged to move more
Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said: “Being physically active is one of the simplest ways people can improve both their physical and mental health, and these refreshed guidelines provide clear, evidence-based advice to help everyone make movement part of everyday life.
“Whether it’s walking to school, playing in the park, taking the stairs or getting active at home, small changes can add up to significant health benefits.
“As we head into the summer holidays, we’re encouraging families to take advantage of the opportunities to get moving together and build healthy habits that can last a lifetime.”
How the Active Partnership Network can help support these guidelines
Andy Taylor, CEO of the Active Partnerships National Organisation, added: ”These refreshed guidelines are a reflection of the growing evidence that all movement is beneficial, but they also remind us that the greatest opportunity lies in supporting those people who are currently the least active.
“By listening to communities, understanding the specific barriers that people face in different places, and collaborating with them to find solutions that work for them, we can help more people benefit from being active.
“Across England, the Active Partnerships Network connects and collaborates with partners in different sectors such as health, local government, education, transport, the voluntary sector, as well as community sports organisations and local communities, turning national guidance into local action.
“Together, we can use this evidence and the guidelines to reduce health inequalities, build healthier communities, and ensure more people have the opportunity to lead active lives.”
New resources for you
Alongside the publication, the Department of Health and Social Care is releasing a suite of updated resources, including infographics and communications materials, to help organisations consistently promote the guidance. You can access the infographics here.
These resources are intended to support professionals working across health, education, local government, sport, and the voluntary sector, and to encourage people to build movement into their daily lives in ways that work for them.
Moving Medicine – advice for health professionals
Dr Natasha Jones, President at the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (FSEM(UK)) said: “This new guidance, reflecting current best evidence, highlights the importance of reducing time spent sitting.
“It also recognises the importance of choice of activity, especially for older people living with health conditions.
“This is vitally important if we are to tackle the root causes of inequality in relation to physical activity. FSEM(UK) has recently published a supportive resource, moving medicine everybody, which supports these new guidelines by helping people living with long term conditions build activity into their lives in a sustainable and achievable way.”
Advice for councils
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, added: “Places where people move are run or shaped by councils: parks, leisure centres, swimming pools, footpaths and the streets children use to get to school.
“The message that any movement is better than none is one councils can build on with residents who find 150 minutes a week daunting.
“The new emphasis on strength and balance is particularly welcome. Council leisure services and falls prevention programmes are already helping older people stay steady on their feet, and this will only grow in importance as more people use weight loss drugs and need to protect their muscle strength alongside.”
The updated evidence reinforces the idea that making small, sustainable changes can deliver meaningful health benefits over time, supporting healthier lives and helping prevent a range of long-term health conditions.