Modifications to Objectives and Subobjectives

The following discussion highlights the modifications, including changes, additions, and deletions, to this focus area's objectives and subobjectives as a result of the midcourse review.

Two objectives were modified following publication of Healthy People 2010. Earlier in the decade, the operational definition for increasing moderate-intensity physical activity in adults (22-2) was changed from moderate activity only to include activities of at least moderate intensity. Scientific evidence has demonstrated that persons who engage in vigorous-intensity physical activities at least 3 days per week for 20 minutes per occasion accrue overall health benefits.¹ Thus, adults who meet the objective for vigorous physical activity also meet the objective for moderate physical activity.

For clarity and consistency, the wording of moderate physical activity among adolescents (22-6) was revised to specify "moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day 5 or more days per week," rather than "for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more of the previous 7 days per week."

Physical activity at school facilities (22-12) became measurable, with a baseline of 35 percent and a target of 50 percent of public and private schools providing community access to school physical activity facilities for all persons outside of normal school hours (that is, before and after the school day, on weekends, and during summer and other vacations).

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