Frequently Asked Questions
Contents
General Questions
What is the purpose of the Physical Activity Guidelines
for Americans?
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans published by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is designed to provide information
and guidance on the types and amounts of physical activity that provide substantial
health benefits for Americans aged 6 years and older. The main idea behind the Guidelines
is that regular physical activity over months and years can produce long-term health
benefits.
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What is new about the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans?
HHS is publishing comprehensive Physical Activity Guidelines for the first time
with the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The Physical
Activity Guidelines are new because they represent:
- The first major review of the science on benefits of physical activity in more than
a decade.
- A range of physical activity: the more you do, the more benefits you gain.
- A total amount of activity per week that allows people to design their own way of
meeting the guidelines.
- Physical activity recommendations for groups such as children and adolescents, adults,
older adults, persons with disabilities, pregnant and postpartum women, and persons
with some chronic conditions.
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What are the major conclusions described in the Physical
Activity Guidelines?
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans describe the major
research findings about the health benefits of physical activity:
- Regular physical activity reduces the risk of many adverse health outcomes.
- Some physical activity is better than none.
- For most health outcomes, additional benefits occur as the amount of physical activity
increases through higher intensity, greater frequency, and/or longer duration.
- Most health benefits occur with at least 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) a
week of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking. Additional
benefits occur with more physical activity.
- Episodes of activity that are at least 10 minutes long count toward meeting the
Guidelines.
- Both aerobic (endurance) and muscle-strengthening (resistance) physical activity
are beneficial.
- Health benefits of physical activity occur for children and adolescents, young and
middle-aged adults, older adults, and those in every studied racial and ethnic group.
- Health benefits of physical activity are attainable for people with disabilities.
- The benefits of physical activity outweigh the risks of injury and heart attack.
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Do the new Physical Activity Guidelines apply to all Americans?
Yes, the Physical Activity Guidelines are for Americans aged 6 years and older.
The Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee did not review evidence for
children younger than age 6, although physical activity for infants and young children
is necessary for healthy growth and development. Children younger than age 6 should
do physical activity appropriate for their age and stage of development.
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What are the Guidelines for adults?
Adults should do a minimum of 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic
activity a week by doing activities like brisk walking, ballroom dancing, or general
gardening. Adults can choose 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) a week of vigorous-intensity
aerobic physical activity by doing exercise like jogging, aerobic dancing, and jumping
rope. Adults also may choose combinations of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic
activity.
Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes, and preferably
spread throughout the week. For additional and more extensive health benefits, adults
should increase their aerobic physical activity to 5 hours (300 minutes) a week
of moderate-intensity or 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic
physical activity or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity
activity. Additional health benefits are gained by engaging in physical activity
beyond this amount. Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or
more days a week to achieve the unique benefits of strengthening activities.
Adults should do a minimum of 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic
activity a week by doing activities like brisk walking, ballroom dancing, or general
gardening.
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What are the Guidelines for children and adolescents?
Children and adolescents aged 6–17 years should accumulate 1 hour or more of
physical activity daily. The 1 hour of activity should be mostly aerobic but should
also include muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening activities. Youth should
include vigorous-intensity activity in this 1 hour on at least 3 days a week. They
should also do muscle-strengthening activities on at least 3 days and bone-strengthening
activities on at least 3 days a week. It is important to encourage young people
to participate in physical activities that are appropriate for their age, enjoyable,
and offer variety. The Guidelines list a number of examples of each type of activity
for children and adolescents.
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Should everyone get the same amount of physical activity?
The amount of physical activity individuals should get each week differs based on
a number of factors. The amount and types of activity needed varies based on age
and special conditions. These conditions include pregnancy and the postpartum period
for women, disabilities, and chronic medical or health conditions.
At a minimum, all adults and older adults should aim for 2 hours and 30 minutes
each week. Youth should be active for 1 hour each day. The Guidelines generally
explain the amounts and types of physical activity needed for health benefits. Individuals
have many choices about appropriate types and amounts of activity. To make these
choices, American adults need to set personal goals for physical activity. People
can meet the Guidelines and their own personal goals through different amounts and
types of activity.
Inactive persons can begin to gain the health benefits as they increase their physical
activity even before they reach 2 hours and 30 minutes each week of moderate-intensity
aerobic activity.
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Is physical activity recommended for persons with disabilities?
Children, adolescents, adults, and older adults with disabilities should meet the
Guidelines when possible and should avoid inactivity because physical activity offers
many health benefits. When persons with disabilities are not able to meet the Guidelines,
they should be as active as possible and avoid being inactive. Persons with disabilities
should work with their health care provider to understand the types and amounts
of physical activity appropriate for them.
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Are the Guidelines for older adults different from other
adults?
Many healthy and fit older adults can follow the guidelines for adults. Some adults
who are unfit or who have activity-limiting chronic conditions may need to follow
the guidelines for older adults. Most of the guidelines are the same for adults
and older adults, but some additional guidelines are just for older adults. These
are:
- When older adults cannot do 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic
activity a week because of chronic conditions, they should be as physically active
as their abilities and conditions allow.
- Older adults should do exercises that maintain or improve balance if they are at
risk for falling.
- Older adults should use relative intensity to determine their level of effort for
physical activity.
- Older adults with chronic conditions should understand whether and how their conditions
affect their ability to do regular physical activity safely.
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Why is the government encouraging people to be more physically
active?
HHS is publishing Physical Activity Guidelines for the first time because being
physically active is one of the most important steps that Americans of all ages
can take to improve their health. The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
provide science-based guidance to help Americans aged 6 years and older improve
their health through appropriate physical activity.
These Guidelines are necessary because of the importance of physical activity to
the health of Americans, whose current inactivity puts them at unnecessary risk.
Unfortunately, the latest information shows that inactivity among American adults
and youth remains relatively high and little progress has been made in increasing
the level of physical activity in the population.
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How do the new Physical Activity Guidelines differ from
the Dietary Guidelines for Americans?
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans provide complementary and consistent advice for physical
activity. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide general guidance
about physical activity and healthy eating for a wide range of health benefits,
including weight control. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are updated
every 5 years. For the Dietary Guidelines, see
www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines. The Physical Activity
Guidelines include a more comprehensive listing of health benefits, provide specific
amounts and types of physical activity, and offer options and benefits to all populations
and many subgroups.
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans provide complementary and consistent advice for physical
activity.
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How do the HHS Physical Activity Guidelines support "Healthy
Youth for a Healthy Future," an HHS Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention
Initiative?
The HHS "Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future" (HYHF), Childhood Overweight and Obesity
Prevention Initiative led by the Surgeon General, promotes the importance of healthy
eating and physical activity at a young age to help prevent overweight and obesity
in this country. HYHF focuses on recognizing and showcasing communities throughout
America that are coming together to address childhood overweight and obesity prevention
by encouraging kids to eat right and exercise. To change children's eating and activity
habits, this initiative concentrates on many of the people who influence our children,
including parents, caregivers, schools, public health leaders and local community
leaders. The Surgeon General has embarked on a national tour to recognize and highlight
those communities with effective prevention programs and to motivate community members
to join together in their efforts to encourage kids to eat healthier and increase
physical activity to at least 60 minutes a day.
The Guidelines and other HHS evidence-informed recommendations provide the scientific
basis for the physical activity actions called for as part of the HYHF initiative
to "Help Kids Stay Active" and "Promote Healthy Choices." Through the Surgeon General's
Pledge, all who wish to join this movement to help children achieve and maintain
a healthy weight commit to "helping children be physically active through everyday
play and participation in sports." Additional resources and specific implementation
strategies are available at: www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention/.
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How are the Guidelines different from previous government
physical activity recommendations?
The Federal Government has never before issued comprehensive physical activity guidelines
for the Nation. HHS is publishing Physical Activity Guidelines for the first time
with the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The Guidelines
represent the first major review of the science on benefits of physical activity
in more than a decade. Unlike previous recommendations, the Guidelines specify a
total amount of activity per week that allows people to design their own way of
meeting the guidelines. People can choose from many activities and can accumulate
activities in bouts of 10 minutes throughout the week. In addition, individuals
can do moderate-intensity activity, vigorous-intensity activity, or a combination
of the two. Muscle-strengthening activity is advised on 2 or more days a week.
In 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College
of Sports Medicine (ACSM) published physical activity recommendations for public
health. The report stated that adults should accumulate at least 30 minutes a day
of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days per week.
In 1996, Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General
supported this same recommendation.
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans affirm that it is acceptable
to follow the CDC/ACSM recommendation and similar recommendations. However, according
to the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee report, the CDC/ACSM guideline
was too specific. In other words, existing scientific evidence does not allow researchers
to say, for example, whether the health benefits of 30 minutes on 5 days a week
are any different from the health benefits of 50 minutes on 3 days a week. As a
result, the new Guidelines allow a person to accumulate 2 hours and 30 minutes a
week in various ways.
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How do the Healthy People 2010 objectives on physical activity
and fitness differ from the new HHS Physical Activity Guidelines?
The Healthy People 2010 objectives were developed and released in January 2000 based
on the research and science from such reports as the Surgeon General's Report on
Physical Activity and Health and national surveys. Healthy People outlines
public health goals (including goals for physical activity and fitness) for each
decade, whereas the Physical Activity Guidelines identify specific amounts of physical
activity individuals should do to accrue health benefits. Essentially, more people
meeting the Guidelines may improve measures included in Healthy People.
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What can communities do?
Communities can take action to ensure that regular physical activity is an easy
choice. Communities can provide many opportunities for physical activity, such as
walking trails, bicycle lanes on roads, sidewalks, and sports fields. Community
organizations have a role to play. Schools, places of worship, worksites, and community
centers can provide opportunities and encouragement for physical activity.
To be effective, physical activity promotion efforts should use an "evidence-based"
approach. The Guide to Community Preventive Services (Community Guide)
published by the CDC has reviewed many community-level approaches to promote physical
activity. Five strongly recommended strategies are described in the Guidelines.
Communities can provide many opportunities for physical activity, such as walking
trails, bicycle lanes on roads, sidewalks, and sports fields.
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Are you changing earlier recommendations of 30 minutes
on most days of the week for adults and 60 minutes a day for youth and, if so, why?
The Guidelines specify a total amount of activity per week that allows people to
design their own way of meeting the guidelines. For example, an individual can meet
the minimum recommendation of 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity
aerobic activity a week by doing 30 minutes a day on 5 days of the week as recommended
by the CDC and the ACSM in 1995 and by the Physical Activity and Health: A Report
of the Surgeon General, published in 1996. However, an individual can also
accumulate aerobic activity in many other ways; for example, doing 50 minutes of
moderate-intensity activity on 3 days, or a 30-minute brisk walk on 2 days and a
90-minute weekend hike. An individual also can do vigorous-intensity activity or
a combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity. In addition, the Guidelines
recommend muscle-strengthening activity on 2 or more days a week.
The minimum guideline for children remains 60 minutes daily. However, more detail
has been provided. Most of the activity should be moderate- or vigorous-intensity
aerobic activity. Children should include vigorous-intensity activity on at least
3 days a week. Children should do muscle-strengthening activity on at least 3 days
a week. They also should do bone-strengthening activity on at least 3 days a week.
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