Federal Government Issues Guidelines on Physical Activity

October 23, 2008—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued the first-ever federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which describe the amount and types of physical activity that provide health benefits to people over the age of 6, including special populations.

Physical activity has many health benefits, including disease and risk-factor reduction, improved aerobic capacity, strength, and endurance, improved mental health, and reduced risk of injury.  Children and adolescents who engage in physical activity also have improved academic performance, better behavior and concentration, and fewer school absences.

A recent study suggests, however, that older children and adolescents engage in less and less physical activity as they get older.  By the time adolescents are 15 years old, they engage in 49 minutes of physical activity per day on weekdays and just 35 minutes per day on weekends.  This is a significant decrease from 9-year-olds, who participate in approximately 3 hours per day every day of the week.  This dramatic decline highlights the need for efforts to increase activity levels of youth, particularly adolescents.

The Guidelines recommend children and adolescents engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity per day.  These minutes can be accrued in smaller increments throughout the day, and should include a mix of aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and bone-strengthening activities.  The Guidelines offer specific examples of these three types of activities as well as tips for helping children and adolescents meet the recommendations.

The Guidelines also include recommendations for adults, seniors, pregnant women, and those with disabilities and chronic diseases.  Healthy adults are advised to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity, physical activity per week.  These recommendations are important when schools are considering establishing staff wellness policies and programs. 

To access summaries and the full set of Guidelines, as well as toolkits and an adult guide to meeting the Guidelines, click here.

Source: "2008 Physical Activity Guideilines for Americans," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008.