Top doctors tell over-50s they should be gardening or swimming twice a week

OLDER Brits should be gardening or swimming at least twice a week to stay in peak fitness, top doctors say.

Government medical advisers also said new mums should aim for 2½ hours’  exercise a week.

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They recommend that over-50s  do strength-based exercise  which  included climbing stairs and  carrying shopping. In a new report they  also suggest that pensioners take up dancing, bowls or tai chi to  help prevent falls, injury and illness.

Doctors claim Brits who meet the guidelines will sharply cut their risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease  and depression.

They also say sitting down for long periods is harmful — even if people hit their exercise targets.

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Exercise eases back pain, improves sleep and helps shed flab. England’s chief medical officer Prof Dame Sally Davies said: “I want to re­assure women  it’s safe to be active during pregnancy and to build up slowly after birth. There’s no negative effect on breastfeeding.”

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