According to the World Health Organisation, increasing physical activity globally could prevent up to five million deaths each year.
Regular physical activity helps prevent and manage non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and several cancers. It can also improve mental health, quality of life and wellbeing.
Yet, the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ latest National Health Survey shows that more than three-quarters of adults and 91 per cent of young people don’t do enough exercise to meet the recommended physical activity guidelines.
Experts from the University of Southern Queensland are available for comment on the below physical activity-related topics.
To arrange an interview with any of the following experts, contact Griffith Thomas 0423 234 822 or Nicholas Britnell 0477 007 443, or email news@unisq.edu.au.
- Tracy Kolbe-Alexander, Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise, School of Health and Medical Sciences can comment on what is World Day for Physical Activity and how it started, getting people moving across the lifespan, community-based physical activity, school-based physical activity, workplace health and wellness, active transport and the role of built environment in physical activity and health.
- Dr Paul Gardiner, Senior Lecturer of Public Health, School of Health and Medical Sciences can comment on the common barriers to physical activity for older adults.
- Susan Wilson-Gahan, Lecturer of Health and Physical Education, School of Education can comment on the role schools play in making sure children get enough physical activity, barriers to sport participation, efforts that can be made to make physical activity more accessible, and how the focus on high performance sport is turning kids off and depleting the player participation base in sport.
- Dr Dean Mills, Senior Lecturer of Exercise Physiology, School of Health and Medical Sciences can comment on why we run out of air when we’re exercising and share some breathing exercises people can do when exercising.
- Stephen Bird, Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, School of Health and Medical Sciences can comment on strength training and conditioning, nutrition, recovery and sleep.
- Dr Brianna Larsen, Lecturer of Sport and Exercise Science, School of Health and Medical Sciences can comment on heat regulation during exercise and the impact of hormones such as oral contraception on exercise performance.
