Keep Wales Safe – Three-quarters of adults in mid and west Wales would like to do more exercise but some admit they don’t always have enough time

According to a recent YouGov survey about weight gain and exercise during the pandemic 76% percent of adults from Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire agreed they would like to do more exercise, but most admitted they don’t always have enough time.

When asked if they had done more exercise during this year’s lockdown, 66% of those surveyed said that they hadn’t. Almost 80% of those questioned knew that exercise was good for their health but admitted they didn’t want to do it.

Over a third of adults in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire (39%) said they are generally less healthy now, than before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hywel Dda University Health Board are keen to spread the word that being active has many benefits. It will help you sleep better, maintain a healthy weight, manage your stress levels and improve your energy levels – all of these can help to improve your quality of life. Being active is especially important if you are awaiting or undergoing treatment. It will help to strengthen your heart and lungs which in turn will help your body to cope with any current or future treatments.

Any activity that makes you feel slightly out of breath is beneficial. If you are already active, continue as you are, or if you feel able, try and do a little more.  If you are not currently very active or feel you could do more, this is the time to give it a go. Do it today, don’t put it off. Lack of movement is very bad for our bodies, our muscles waste away quickly and this affects our strength and our balance. Our muscles, bones and joints like to be moved, even though they might creak and groan a bit.   

Help is on hand for those looking to lose their lockdown weight and get more active according to Beca Lyne-Pirkis, the Healthy Weight Cymru ambassador. She said, “It’s not always easy to exercise regularly and eat healthily and many have found recent lockdowns especially tricky. Even small changes, however, can make a big difference to your health and can make you feel better too. There is lots of information and advice on how to take more exercise, eat better and improve your wellbeing on the NHS 111 Wales Living Well website.”

There is lots of information and advice on how to take more exercise, eat better and improve your wellbeing on the Living and Feeling Well pages on the NHS 111 Wales website.

Useful information on getting moving is also available on the Hywel Dda University Health Board’s website: https://hduhb.nhs.wales/healthcare/covid-19-information/preparing-for-treatment-advice-for-orthopaedic-patients/accordion-lifestyle-advice-for-ortho/being-active/