Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report
Letter to the Secretary
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES
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Office of the Secretary |
Assistant Secretary for Health Office of Public Health
and Science Washington D.C. 20201
May 23, 2008
The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt Secretary of Health and Human
Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Secretary Leavitt,
On behalf of the entire 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory
Committee, we are very pleased to submit the Physical Activity Guidelines
Advisory Committee Report, 2008.
You charged our committee to "...review existing scientific literature
to identify where there is sufficient evidence to develop a comprehensive set
of specific physical activity recommendations." The Committee's report
documents scientific background and rationale for the 2008 edition of the
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The Committee also identified
areas where further scientific research is needed.
The Committee's review and deliberations clearly demonstrated that
sedentary behavior confers substantial health risks throughout the lifespan.
The health benefits of being habitually physically active appear to apply to
all people regardless of age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and to
many people with physical or cognitive disabilities. The amount and intensity
of physical activity needed to achieve many health benefits is well within the
capacity of most Americans and can be performed safely. This report provides
the scientific basis for these conclusions and the development of federal
physical activity guidelines.
For the entire Committee, we want to thank you for the opportunity to
support your Prevention Priority. Over the past twelve months, the Committee
members and consultants worked exceptionally long and hard to conduct the
extensive scientific review that made this report possible. Despite this task
being added to their usual busy schedules, they met tight deadlines, provided
insight and education to one another, and unselfishly worked to develop a
consensus report. Thus, we wish to thank you for assembling a committee of
outstanding professionals who are not only knowledgeable and highly productive
but also most pleasant in character.
It is important to emphasize that this report could not have been
completed without the outstanding support of all the HHS staff who assisted us
throughout the entire process. We are very grateful for their substantial
assistance in developing an extensive electronic searchable literature database
for use by the Committee and for their excellent logistical and management
support in all aspects of the Committee's work. Special recognition goes to
RADM Penelope Slade Royall and CAPT Richard Troiano of the Office of Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion for their tireless dedication in the
coordination, and ultimate completion, of this project. This report greatly
benefits from the expert editing provided by Anne Brown Rodgers, who helped us
present information that is useful and readable, and from the careful work of
Reba Norman, who ensured the completeness and accuracy of the reports
extensive reference lists.
Our review documents very strong scientific evidence that physically
active people have higher levels of health-related fitness, a lower risk of
developing a number of disabling medical conditions, and lower rates of various
chronic diseases than people who are inactive. Given Americans' low rates of
participation in physical activity and high prevalence of chronic diseases and
associated disabilities, this report is particularly timely. It provides the
necessary foundation for HHS to proceed to develop Physical Activity
Guidelines for Americans, 2008 and related policy statements. Strong
federal guidelines, policies, and programs regarding physical activity should
be an essential component of any comprehensive disease prevention and health
promotion strategy for Americans. Committee members are committed to the broad
dissemination of this report and the ensuing guidelines. Please do not hesitate
to contact us or any of the Committee members if we can be of further
service.
Sincerely,
[Signed May 23, 2008] William L. Haskell, Ph.D. Chair, 2008
Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Prevention Research Center,
School of Medicine, Stanford University
[Signed May 23, 2008] Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D. Vice-Chair, 2008
Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee John Hancock Center for
Physical Activity and Nutrition Friedman School of Nutrition Science and
Policy, Tufts University
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