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<\/p>\nSir Chris Whitty has revealed he cycles to work and goes kayaking in his spare time \u2014 as the Chief Medical Officer calls on Britons to “do things you enjoy”<\/p>\n
00:02, 10 Jul 2026Updated 09:30, 10 Jul 2026<\/p>\n
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Sir Chris Whitty presenting new national guidance at a media briefing<\/p>\n
Sir Chris Whitty<\/a> has warned working from home<\/a> means more Brits are sitting all day and not getting enough physical activity.<\/p>\n England\u2019s Chief Medical Officer unveiled the UK\u2019s new official guidance on the amount and type of exercise we should be doing at a media briefing in central London. The update includes new evidence showing the potentially lifesaving impact of doing a small amount of physical activity<\/a> for people currently inactive.<\/p>\n Sir Chris said he cycles to work and goes kayaking in his spare time, as he called on the nation to \u201cfind things you enjoy\u201d as well as building movement into our weekly routine. He said societal changes since 2019, such as WFH and online shopping, have made<\/p>\n ‘Cure’ for grey hair close, cancer mystery solved, living a couch potato lifestyle raises the risk of dying, and skimping sleep piles on weight. – all this and more in our science newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n We can now work and shop without leaving the armchair(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n Sir Chris said: \u201cI do think it’s important people think through, for example, hybrid working. It means quite a lot of people could very easily do very little, other than be at their home. Whereas previously people would be routinely going to work and that often meant at least some physical activity.<\/p>\n \u201cOnline shopping is another example where people can actually stay put, who previously would have gone out and actually gone to the shops\u2026 Carrying your weekly shop home is actually a resistance activity.\u201d<\/p>\n Compiled by the Chief Medical Officers of all the UK nations, it is the first time the national guidelines have been updated in seven years since the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n New research shows the huge benefits of a small amount of exercise over doing none<\/p>\n The update stresses the importance of breaking up prolonged periods of sitting, and including exercises for strength – particularly for people on weight loss drugs – and balance.<\/p>\n Sir Chris said people should exercise from their 40s for the body they want in their 70s – to delay \u201cthe period when you go into frailty\u201d. He added: \u201cOnce you get to about 50 your muscle mass is decreasing.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you actually manage to get a good muscle mass – and keep it through late middle age – you will be in much better shape in old age with mobility, than if you allow it to essentially wither away.\u201d<\/p>\n The guidance<\/p>\n The guidance confirmed previous advice from 2019 that adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both.<\/p>\n Moderate exercise includes activities such as a brisk walk or riding a bike while vigorous exercise is anything that leaves you too out of breath to hold a conversation.<\/p>\n The update stressed the importance of activities such as walking to the shops, taking the stairs, dancing, gardening<\/a>, active play and household tasks.<\/p>\n It drew on latest evidence showing that the biggest gains in health – such as reduced risk of things like cancer and heart attacks – were seen in people who moved from inactivity to any level of activity.<\/p>\n Sir Chris said: \u201cJust how do people do this? The broad answer is they do it in three ways. They do it because it is enjoyable – so going dancing, going people enjoy running, people enjoy playing sport.<\/p>\n \u201cThey do it because it is useful, that’s where active transport comes in. They do it because they build it into their lives, for example taking the stairs rather than the lift.<\/p>\n \u201cOne-off activity is very easy to start and then not continue but if it is enjoyable, useful, or you can build it in, people can maintain it over long periods.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"man](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0_Man-Sitting-On-Armchair-At-Home-With-Laptop-Paying-Bill-Online.jpg\")
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