Be as active you can in ways that you find enjoyable, seek the added pleasure of sedentary living, but avoid lengthy periods of inactivity, says a leading Charles Sturt University (CSU) exercise scientist.

Professor Robert Robergs, Research Professor in Exercise Science at the CSU School of Human Movement Studies in Bathurst, has responded to recent media attention given to the importance of minimising long bouts of sedentary behaviour.

"This is because recent research has shown long periods of sedentary living add to your risk for poor health, regardless of whether you meet the minimum physical activity guidelines," Professor Robergs said. "Thus, you need to perform at least the minimum guidelines of daily moderate to vigorous activity and avoid long periods of sedentary living for the rest of each day."

Professor Robergs says the public at large can be excused for being confused about what to do with their leisure time, as numerous media and public opinion communications continue to cloud the message.

"Public health recommendations concerning daily physical activity have been in existence for almost two decades in most developed countries, and as you might imagine, the recommendations are based on more than 100 years of research about physical activity, health, quality of life, and premature death," he said.

"It is important to note that Australia's Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines do not mean you are to avoid sedentary leisure.

"In fact, the more active you are, the more you will need periods of sedentary behaviour to recover and relax. This is a part of health living. The intent by public health officials, and especially exercise scientists, is not to stigmatise adults or ageing Australians in general who are currently not meeting these guidelines.

"The guidelines are based on a moral and ethical responsibility to help Australian adults improve their health. Exercise scientists provide assistance in this regard due to an overwhelming sense of responsibility to help, and like other allied health professionals, are well-trained to be aware of the difficulties inherent in any behaviour change."

Professor Robergs says how individuals manage their active and passive leisure is totally dependent on who you are and how you structure your life, and what activities you like and dislike.

"Australia is a wonderful country, and our social structure is built on tremendous access to opportunities that support healthy living into older age," he said. "We are all different, and the secret is to find out what works for you.

"Helping people to do this is a good trait of our society, and the end result is to aspire to provide the support needed for a future where our population demographic of an increasing proportion of older Australians are able to remain healthy, active, able to live independently, and continue to participate and contribute to life in their community for longer.

"Surely this is a good objective to strive for," Professor Robergs said.