Insight: June 26

This week, Insight teams up with Dr Michael Mosley and some of Australia’s leading exercise experts to dissect some of the most common messages around exercise and ask, how do you know what’s best for you?

This is Part 1 of a 2 part special exploring Exercise.

Dr Michael Mosley doesn’t like exercise. He’s made documentaries about it, written books about it, experimented with it but for the science broadcaster and author, exercise is merely something to be endured.

“The reality is I force myself out there, I sweat a lot and never at any point do I say ‘boy, this is enjoyable’. I quite like the moment when I stop”, he tells Insight.

He’s not alone.

Exercise scientist, Professor Tim Olds, says the majority of Australians aren’t meeting the Australian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines, which suggests 150 to 300 minutes of moderately intense physical activity, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorously intense physical activity, plus two muscle strengthening sessions, each week.

“Over 50 percent of adults say they’re meeting the guidelines … but when you measure them using devices like Fitbits, it comes out at much, much less – perhaps 10 per cent actually meet it”, he says.

Currently 60 per cent of Australians are overweight and 30 per cent of Australians obese, so we must ask, are the guidelines working? How do we motivate people off the couch and get them moving more?

7:30pm Tuesday June 26 on SBS.