Healthy Lifestyle – Physical Activity

Amount of physical activity for children aged 5 - 17 years

• The World Health Organisation recommends that children and youths aged 5-17 to accumulate at least an average of 60 minutes daily of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activities across the week.
• “Physical Activity” refers to any physical movements that consume energy. These include physical education lesson, sports competition, physical training; travelling (e.g., walking or cycling), doing household work, games, recreation, etc.
• “Moderate-intensity physical activities” will slightly speed up breathing and heart rate, and cause mild sweating without exertion (e.g. one can still talk with ease while exercising)
• “Vigorous-intensity physical activities” will greatly speed up breathing and heart rate, and cause profuse sweating and exertion (e.g. one cannot or finds it difficult to talk with ease while exercising).
• Example:

Schools should adopt the following measures:

• At the primary level, schools should allocate not less than 5% of the total lesson time to General PE in KS1 and KS2;
  At the junior secondary level, schools should allocate 5% to 8% of the total lesson time to General PE in KS3; and
  At the senior secondary level, schools should allocate at least 5% of the total lesson time in General PE through Other Learning Experiences – Physical Development in KS4.
  Schools are also encouraged to increase the curriculum time according to their situation and needs;

• Lead students for morning exercise, exercise between lessons, etc;
• Make the sports facilities available and provide equipment for students to engage in physical activities during recess, lunch time and after school;
• Provide opportunities for students to participate in various kinds of sport-related interest groups, development award schemes, competitions, school team trainings, etc; and
• Encourage students to choose physical games and training as leisure activities, and to consume their energy when travelling and doing household work.