SINGAPORE — The Singapore Physical Activity Guidelines (SPAG) were launched on Sunday (June 12) to provide Singaporeans of all ages with recommendations on physical activity to benefit their health and well-being.
The guidelines are developed by Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Health Promotion Board (HPB), and are revised from the National Physical Activity Guidelines published in 2011, as well as the National Physical Activity Guidelines for Children and Youth up to 18 years published. in 2013.
With an emphasis on encouraging a variety of physical activities and reducing sedentary behaviour, the guidelines provide Singaporeans with detailed recommendations on the duration, intensity, frequency and type of physical activities.
Singaporeans can better understand how much physical activity is required to achieve desired health benefits and learn the type of exercise that is right for their age group and lifestyle.
For example, preschool children should aim to achieve the recommendation of at least 180 minutes of daily physical activity through a variety of activities that include social play and a variety of movements such as running, jumping, and throwing to develop their playing skills. fundamental movement.
For adults, the guidelines recommend at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, and strengthening muscles, bones, and joints through a variety of moderate- or vigorous-intensity activities at least two days a week.
Recommendations for pregnant and postpartum women and people with disabilities (PwD) have also been added to the revised set of guidelines.
Completion of research studies, new evidence in the last decade
SPAG is co-developed by experts from the fields of medicine, health promotion, sport, and research, and is the culmination of an intensive review of research studies and new evidence that has emerged over the last decade.
The new guidelines serve to help the nation improve public health outcomes. They provide reference points for stakeholders, including health and fitness professionals, as well as policymakers and community leaders who play a key role in creating an ecosystem that supports and enables active living.
SPAG is also developed with the inclusion of practical tips and case studies to educate the community to make informed decisions about their health and wellness.
The recommendations in SPAG aim to promote a variety of activities to achieve the five key components of physical activity: aerobic fitness, muscular strength, bone strength, flexibility, and balance.
“With the increasing use of digital devices in our daily lives, it is important to find ways within our lifestyle routines to move more and break sedentary time,” said Koh Peng Keng, interim CEO and COO of HPB.
“With recommendations on the type, amount and intensity of physical activity for different segments of the population, we encourage all Singaporeans to engage in a variety of exercises and activities to achieve holistic health outcomes.”
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