US Dept. of HHS Recommended Physical Activity Guidelines

In the fall of 2008, the US Department of Health and Human Services released its first physical activity guidelines. The new guidelines recommend at least 2 ½ hours every week of moderate-intensity physical activity for adults.

Here are the key guidelines for adults:

• Avoid inactivity. Some physical activity is better than none, and doing anything can provide some health benefits.

• If moderate-intensity activities are preferred, adults should do at least 150 minutes a week. This includes activities like brisk walking, water aerobics, ballroom dancing, and gardening.

• It vigorous-intensity activities are preferred, adults should do at least 75 minutes a week. This can include jogging, running, swimming, and jumping rope.

• Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes and spread throughout the week.

• For additional health benefits, adults should increase their aerobic physical activity to 300 minutes (5 hours) a week of moderate-intensity, or 150 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.

• Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities that are moderate or high intensity and involve all major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week, as these activities provide additional health benefits.

For more information about the new physical activity guidelines, please visit: http://www.health.gov/PAGuidelines/

Online Resources:

American College of Sports Medicine http://www.acsm.org/

American Council on Exercise http://www.acefitness.org/

American Heart Association Walk at Work Day http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053115

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy Weight Resources http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/healthyweight/index.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy Worksite Initiative http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/hwi/index.htm

America on the Move www.americaonthemove.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention StairWELL to Better Health http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/hwi/toolkits/stairwell/index.htm

Get Outdoors Georgia www.getoutdoorsgeorgia.org/

National Association for Health & Fitness physicalfitness.org/nehf.html

National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity www.ncppa.org/

Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center www.walkinginfo.org/

President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports www.fitness.gov/

US Dept. of Health & Human Services Small Steps www.smallsteps.gov/