Daily HealthBeat Tip - January 22, 2007

Do what the feds do

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Many federal employees want a leaner workforce, starting with them. Like the rest of us, they struggle with weighing too much and exercising too little.

So the government is doing something about it. 2007 is the Year of the Healthier Fed. Employees, retirees, family members and contractors can start by doing 30 minutes or more of physical activity at least five days a week for six weeks.

A Web site, healthierfeds.gov, offers them help

Not a fed? The executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Melissa Johnson, says you can join in, too. Just log onto presidentschallenge.org and get started.

"It's the exact same program as for federal employees; Individuals, families, organizations, and communities can all log on, track and monitor activity, and work towards presidential awards. So it's for everyone." (12 seconds)

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: January, 23 2007