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HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini

Being active to lose weight

Kia hohe e whīroki ai

Being active is important for good health, but physical activity on its own isn't usually enough to lose weight. You need to combine being active with eating well.

Be active every day

To stay a healthy weight, try to do at least 2½ hours of moderate activity every week, spread throughout the week. One way to do this is to do 30 minutes most days of the week. Moderate activity means you find it hard to hold a conversation but are still able to talk. You should also notice that you start to get warm, but not too hot.

If you're trying to lose weight, you need to do more – aim for five hours of moderate activity every week.

Starting out

If you have a health condition such as high blood pressure or heart problems, or you haven’t been active for a while and have concerns about your health, talk to your GP before you start.

Start slowly – begin with five to 10 minutes and build up to more regular activity. You might find your muscles get stiff and sore – this should go away as you get used to being active. But if being active causes any pain, talk to your GP or physiotherapist.

Tips for being more active

overweight couple walking their dog on the beach

If you need help being more active, talk to your GP or practice nurse about a Green Prescription or a referral to a personal trainer or physiotherapist for specific advice and support.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed February 2022.

Sources

Page reference: 635099

Review key: HIMWA-28082