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A Report of the Surgeon General
Physical Activity and Health
Adults
KEY MESSAGES:
- Physical activity need not be strenuous
to achieve health benefits.
- Men and women of all ages benefit
from a moderate amount of daily physical activity.
The same moderate amount of activity can be obtained
in longer sessions of moderately intense activities
(such as 30 minutes of brisk walking) as in shorter
sessions of more strenuous activities (such as 1520
minutes of jogging).
- Additional health benefits can
be gained through greater amounts of physical activity.
Adults who maintain a regular routine of physical
activity that is of longer duration or of greater
intensity are likely to derive greater benefit. However,
because risk of injury also increases with greater
amounts of activity, care should be taken to avoid
excessive amounts.
- Previously sedentary people who
begin physical activity programs should start with
short sessions (510 minutes) of physical activity
and gradually build up to the desired level of activity.
- Adults with chronic health problems,
such as heart disease, diabetes, or obesity, or who
are at high risk for these conditions should first
consult a physician before beginning a new program
of physical activity. Men over age 40 and women over
age 50 who plan to begin a new program of vigorous
activity should consult a physician to be sure they
do not have heart disease or other health problems.
FACTS:
- More than 60 percent of U.S. adults
do not engage in the recommended amount of activity.
- Approximately 25 percent of U.S.
adults are not active at all.
- Physical inactivity is more
common among:
- Women than men.
- African American and Hispanic
adults than whites.
- Older than younger adults.
- Less affluent than more affluent
people.
- Social support from family and
friends has been consistently and positively related
to regular physical activity.
BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:
- Reduces the risk of dying from
coronary heart disease and of developing high blood
pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.
- Can help reduce blood pressure
in some people with hypertension.
- Helps maintain healthy bones, muscles,
and joints.
- Reduces symptoms of anxiety and
depression and fosters improvements in mood and feelings
of well-being.
- Helps control weight, develop lean
muscle, and reduce body fat.
WHAT COMMUNITIES CAN DO:
- Provide environmental inducements
to physical activity, such as safe, accessible, and
attractive trails for walking and bicycling, and sidewalks
with curb cuts.
- Open schools for community recreation,
form neighborhood watch groups to increase safety,
and encourage malls and other indoor or protected
locations to provide safe places for walking in any
weather.
- Provide community-based programs
to meet the needs of specific populations, such as
racial and ethnic minority groups, women, older adults,
persons with disabilities, and low-income groups.
- Encourage health care providers
to talk routinely to their patients about incorporating
physical activity into their lives.
- Encourage employers to provide
supportive worksite environments and policies that
offer opportunities for employees to incorporate moderate
physical activity into their daily lives.
For more information contact:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, MS K-46
4770 Buford Highway, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341-3724
1-888-CDC-4NRG or 1-888-232-4674 (Toll Free)
http://www.cdc.gov
The Presidents Council on Physical
Fitness and Sports
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 738H
Washington, DC 20201
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