Physical Activity for a Healthy Weight
On this page:
- Why is physical activity important?
- How much physical activity do I need?
- How many calories are used in typical activities?
Why is physical activity important?
Regular physical activity is important for good health, and it's especially important if you're trying to lose weight or to maintain a healthy weight.
- When losing weight, more physical activity increases the number of calories your body uses for energy or "burns off." The burning of calories through physical activity, combined with reducing the number of calories you eat, creates a "calorie deficit" that results in weight loss.
- Most weight loss occurs because of decreased caloric intake. However, evidence shows the only way to maintain weight loss is to be engaged in regular physical activity.
- Most importantly, physical activity reduces risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes beyond that produced by weight reduction alone.
Physical activity also helps to–
- Maintain weight.
- Reduce high blood pressure.
- Reduce risk for type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and several forms of cancer.
- Reduce arthritis pain and associated disability.
- Reduce risk for osteoporosis and falls.
- Reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
How much physical activity do I need?
When it comes to weight management, people vary greatly in how much
physical activity they need. Here are some guidelines to follow:
To maintain your weight: Work your way up to 150 minutes of
moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity
aerobic activity, or an equivalent mix of the two each week. Strong
scientific evidence shows that physical activity can help you maintain your
weight over time. However, the exact amount of physical activity needed to
do this is not clear since it varies greatly from person to person. It’s
possible that you may need to do more than the equivalent of 150 minutes of
moderate-intensity activity a week to maintain your weight.
To lose weight and keep it off: You will need a high amount of
physical activity unless you also adjust your diet and reduce the amount of
calories you’re eating and drinking. Getting to and staying at a healthy
weight requires both regular physical activity and a healthy eating plan.
What do moderate- and vigorous-intensity mean?
Moderate: While performing the physical activity, if your breathing and heart rate is noticeably faster but you can still carry on a conversation — it's probably moderately intense. Examples include—
- Walking briskly (a 15-minute mile).
- Light yard work (raking/bagging leaves or using a lawn mower).
- Light snow shoveling.
- Actively playing with children.
- Biking at a casual pace.
Vigorous: Your heart rate is increased substantially and you are breathing too hard and fast to have a conversation, it's probably vigorously intense. Examples include—
- Jogging/running.
- Swimming laps.
- Rollerblading/inline skating at a brisk pace.
- Cross-country skiing.
- Most competitive sports (football, basketball, or soccer).
- Jumping rope.
How many calories are used in typical activities?
The following table shows calories used in common physical activities at both moderate and vigorous levels.
| Calories Used per Hour in Common Physical Activities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moderate Physical Activity | Approximate Calories/30 Minutes for a 154 lb Person1 | Approximate Calories/Hr for a 154 lb Person1 |
| Hiking | 185 | 370 |
| Light gardening/yard work | 165 | 330 |
| Dancing | 165 | 330 |
| Golf (walking and carrying clubs) | 165 | 330 |
| Bicycling (<10 mph) | 145 | 290 |
| Walking (3.5 mph) | 140 | 280 |
| Weight lifting (general light workout) | 110 | 220 |
| Stretching | 90 | 180 |
| Vigorous Physical Activity | Approximate Calories/30 Minutes for a 154 lb Person1 | Approximate Calories/Hr for a 154 lb Person1 |
| Running/jogging (5 mph) | 295 | 590 |
| Bicycling (>10 mph) | 295 | 590 |
| Swimming (slow freestyle laps) | 255 | 510 |
| Aerobics | 240 | 480 |
| Walking (4.5 mph) | 230 | 460 |
| Heavy yard work (chopping wood) | 220 | 440 |
| Weight lifting (vigorous effort) | 220 | 440 |
| Basketball (vigorous) | 220 | 440 |
|
1Calories
burned per hour will be higher for persons who weigh more than
154 lbs (70 kg) and lower for persons who weigh less. Source: Adapted from Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, page 16, Table 4. | ||
To help estimate the intensity of your physical activity, see
Physical Activity for
Everyone: Measuring Physical Activity Intensity.
Want to learn more?
Getting Started with Physical Activity for a Healthy Weight
If you've not been physically active in a while, you may be wondering
how to get started again. Lace up those sneakers and find some
motivating ideas.
For general Physical Activity information, see Physical Activity for Everyone.
Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.
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Page last updated: November 21, 2008
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
