1 . More and more teenagers are becoming unwilling to exercise worldwide. Australia, a nation that prides itself on its outdoor culture, is doing particularly poorly. It is currently ranked (排名) 140th out of 146 countries for teenage exercise levels. The data shows that 85%of girls are physically inactive compared to 78% of boys. In Australia, less than 1 in 10 teenagers aged 12 to 18 are meeting the recommended levels of physical activity.

The current guidelines and evidence show that teenagers should be doing at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. This should include muscle and bone strengthening activities on at least three days per week, meanwhile limiting recreational screen time to a maximum of 2 hours per day.

Not being active can cause a range of health conditions leading to early adulthood and beyond. Adolescents may have decreased bone and cardio-metabolic (心脏代谢的) health which leaves them facing an increased risk of chronic disease (慢性病) in later life, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and decreased fitness. If you’re not moving enough you’re also at an increased risk of being overweight or obese, with data already showing that 29.8% of teenagers (14-17) are classified as overweight or obese.

So how can we get teenagers to exercise more? Firstly, high schools should place more importance on lunchtime and allow 1-hour breaks that increase physical activity. We should also encourage teenagers to be active on their lunch break. Parents and guardians also have an important role to play and should aim to devote 1 hour a day to moving more. This does not need to be 1 full hour and can be broken down into two 30-minute parts. The most important factor is to identify your teenager’s interests and needs surrounding their physical activity.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help in finding a safe and fun exercise program. A qualified exercise physiologist or exercise scientist can help your child find a way to be more active that is suited to their needs, age of development, and interests.

3 . Want to add a simple movement to your daily life? Walking may be your best choice.    1    .

Walking is good for your heart

Walking is considered as cardio（有氧的）exercise, no matter the speed at which you take it. Studies show that walking can reduce the risk of heart disease and lower your resting heart rate and blood pressure.    2    . You can go for a 30-minute walk once a day or break it up into three 10-minute parts.

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What benefits physical health often benefits mental health-the same is true for walking. Just five minutes of walking can lower anxiety. If you have any kind of green space nearby, try to take advantage of it. One study showed that people who went on a 90-minute nature walk reported fewer bad feelings.

Walking can improve your sleep

    4    . Getting outside in the day for a walk can also help you stay awake in the morning and get sleepier toward the night. If a nighttime walk is your preference, experts suggest you finish it three hours before bedtime.

Walking can help with fat loss

Walking is a type of cardio workout that is good for fat loss and can help you achieve or keep a healthy weight. It should be done regularly and for long periods of time.    5    . A brisk（轻快的）pace refers to a 17-to 15-minute mile, or 50%to 70%of your maximum heart rate.