HHS HealthBeat (April 14, 2009)

Finding your activity

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

Everybody has a body, and it’s good to use what we have. But many of us can dream up more physical activities that we don’t want than we do want.

Something’s not right about that. Play should be fun, as Acting Surgeon General Steven Galson points out. He says HHS’ first Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends doing an activity you like.

For most adults, the guidelines recommend at least two hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate activity. That could be brisk walking – or, if that’s not for you, something else.

Galson says:

[Acting Surgeon General Steven Galson speaks] ``There are different recommendations for kids and for most people up to age 65. But the bottom line of the message—so you don’t have to memorize numbers—is that every American can get physical activity in their own way.’’

Learn more at hhs.gov.

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

Last revised: April, 15 2009