Healthy Living Pharmacy: Holding an awareness event/campaign on physical activity

Published on: 24th March 2017 | Updated on: 1st June 2022

This page contains links to resources and information which pharmacy teams may wish to consider using when planning a health promotion event/campaign focussing on promoting physical activity.


Click on a heading below for more information. 

Resources to assist with finding local data

The below tools can be used to gather information to establish the level of physical activity on a local basis:

  • Data.GOV.UK – Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet, England: This statistical report presents a range of information on obesity, physical activity and diet, drawn together from a variety of sources. Data is presented at Clinical Commissioning Group or local authority level
  • Public Health England – Health Profiles: This tool provides a snapshot of health and wellbeing across each local authority in England as portrayed by a range of indicators. They are intended to stimulate discussion between local government and health service providers by highlighting local needs and providing comparisons with other areas as well as with the national average.
  • Public Health England (PHE) – Physical Activity tool: This tool brings together data for the whole of England on physical activity, including walking and cycling, as well as data on related risk factors and conditions such as obesity and diabetes. The tool presents data at local level to help promote physical activity, develop understanding, and support benchmarking, commissioning and service improvement
  • Sport England – Active People Survey analysis tool: This site gives you access to data from the Active People Survey; a survey that tracks the number of people taking part in sport and wider physical activity in England

Community Pharmacy England resources
National charities & resources
Key facts & statistics
Training resources
Physical activity guidelines
  • Guidance from the Chief Medical Office (CMO) has been published on how much physical activity people should be doing, according to their age group. Individual physical and mental capabilities should be considered when interpreting the guidelines

Early years (under 5s) – infants not yet capable of walking

  • Physical activity should be encouraged from birth, particularly through floor-based play and water-based activities in safe environments
  • All under 5s should minimise the amount of time spent being sedentary (being restrained or sitting) for extended periods (except time spent sleeping)

Early years (under 5s) – children capable of walking

  • Children of pre-school age who are capable of walking unaided should be physically active daily for at least 180 minutes (3 hours), spread throughout the day
  • All under 5s should minimise the amount of time spent being sedentary (being restrained or sitting) for extended periods (except time spent sleeping)

Children and young people aged 5-18

  • All children and young people should engage in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for at least 60 minutes and up to several hours every day
  • Vigorous intensity activities, including those that strengthen muscle and bone, should be incorporated at least three days a week
  • All children and young people should minimise the amount of time spent being sedentary (sitting) for extended periods

Adults aged 19-64

  • Adults should aim to be active daily. Over a week, activity should add up to at least 150 minutes (2½ hours) of moderate intensity activity in bouts of 10 minutes or more – one way to approach this is to do 30 minutes on at least 5 days a week
  • Alternatively, comparable benefits can be achieved through 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity spread across the week or combinations of moderate and vigorous intensity activity
  • Adults should also undertake physical activity to improve muscle strength on at least two days a week
  • All adults should minimise the amount of time spent being sedentary (sitting) for extended periods

Older adults aged 65+

  • For those who are already regularly active at moderate intensity, comparable benefits can be achieved through 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity spread across the week or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity
  • Older adults should also undertake physical activity to improve muscle strength on at least two days a week
  • Older adults at risk of falls should incorporate physical activity to improve balance and co‑ordination on at least two days a week
  • All older adults should minimise the amount of time spent being sedentary (sitting) for extended periods
Campaign/event tips
  • Consider providing free pedometers to customers to encourage people to get walking, or encourage people to download these on their smartphones where necessary
  • Consider contacting local gyms to discuss whether you can advertise offers or promotions they are running
  • Walking for health is an organisation that organises free, short walks every week; find out if your local area has one and signpost people to it

Further resources

Click here to return to the Health Promotion Ideas hub page

For more information on this topic please email comms.team@cpe.org.uk

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