Most people know that physical activity burns calories, which can help with weight management. However, the benefits of physical activity - and health risks associated with inactivity - extend far beyond weight management. In fact, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, few lifestyle choices have as large an impact on health and wellbeing as regular physical activity. Research shows regular physical activity not only helps reduce the risk for, and improves management of, heart disease and diabetes, it also helps improve sleep and stress management.
Current guidelines say most adults need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week. Children need even more. And, although even greater health benefits can be obtained by increasing the duration, frequency, or intensity of physical activity, just becoming moderately active on a regular basis can help most people improve their health and wellbeing, regardless of age, ethnicity, shape or size. What’s more, all types of physical activity count toward physical activity goals, including walking, gardening, playing sports, and even housework.
With a renewed emphasis on active lifestyles, it’s also important to be aware of hydration needs, particularly when being active in the heat, as well as the role of beverages in maintaining proper hydration.
CPE Program
Motivational Interviewing in Action: Skills & Tools to Enhance Change in Physical Activity Behavior. View Program
Interview with Expert
Physical Activity for Health: What Kind? How Much? How Intense? Dr Steven Blair addresses the latest thinking on exercise and health. Read Article
Webinar
Understanding Inactivity Physiology & Strategies to Help Adopt Healthier Behaviors View Webinar
The benefits of physical activity extend far beyond weight management.
Learn about the health benefits of regular physical activity, including research on its role in reducing the risk for, and improving the management of, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases.
Learn about physical activity recommendations for adults, children and special groups, including the handicapped and the elderly.
• 2008 U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines
• EU 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines
Proper hydration is important for keeping the fun in physical activity. Dehydration can not only increase how much effort physical activity seems to require, it can impact physical and mental performance and cause fatigue and headache. Learn more.
Learn about Exercise is Medicine, an international initiative by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) to encourage health professionals to discuss physical activity with patients at every visit.
Expand All
Collapse All
- News, Articles and Research Briefs
-
Four Simple Steps to Everyday Fitness
Highlights from the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
It’s Time for Recess: Just Keep on Moving (New York Times)
Head Out for a Daily Dose of Green Space (New York Times)
Exercise: For Type 2 Diabetes, 2 Types of Training (New York Times)
Youth Program Helps Buck Unhealthy Trend (BGCA)
Can walking help guard against stroke? (Reuters)
Want to keep the weight off? Get on your bike. (Reuters)
Mom's exercise may help 'normalize' baby's weight (Reuters)
After-school exercise helps overweight girls (Reuters)
Child fitness: Sneaky strategies aim to get kids moving (Reuters)
Exercise protects and improves the aging brain (Reuters)
Close
-
- What Experts Say
-
2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (US HHS)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the first-ever Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans in 2008 describing the types and amounts of physical activity that offer substantial health benefits.The ABC of Physical Activity for Health: a consensus statement from the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
O'Donovan G, Blazevich AJ, Boreham C, Cooper AR, Crank H, Ekelund U, Fox KR, Gately P, Giles-Corti B, Gill JM, Hamer M, McDermott I, Murphy M, Mutrie N, Reilly JJ, Saxton JM, Stamatakis E. J Sports Sci. 2010 Apr;28(6):573-91.Sport and Health. EU 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines (EU)
Recommended Policy Actions in Support of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity. Fourth Consolidated Draft, Approved by the EU Working Group "Sport & Health" at its meeting on 25 September 2008Physical Activity and Public Health for Adults Recommendation from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association
Powell KE, Blair SN, Franklin BA, Macera CA, Heath GW, Thompson PD, and Bauman A. Circulation 2007;116;1081-1093.Physical Activity and Public Health in Older Adults Recommendation From the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association
Circulation. 2007;116:1094-1105.Nutrition and Athletic Performance Position of the American Dietetic Association
This updated position paper couples a rigorous, systematic, evidence-based analysis of nutrition and performance-specific literature with current scientific data related to energy needs, assessment of body composition, strategies for weight change, nutrient and fluid needs, special nutrient needs during training and competition, the use of supplements and ergogenic aids, nutrition recommendations for vegetarian athletes and the roles and responsibilities of sports dietitians.Report of the Scientific Committee on Food on composition and specification of food intended to meet the expenditure of intense muscular effort, especially for sportsmen (EU)
Close
Adopted by the SCF on 22/6/2000
-
- Webinars, Podcasts and Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Programs
-
Sit Less, Move More – Understanding Inactivity & Helping Patients Adopt Healthier Behaviors (Webinar)
With Dr. Marc Hamilton and Dr. Catherine Christie. This course describes the rapidly growing field of "inactivity physiology," which is taking aim at improving health in a sedentary society and targeting some of the most common diseases caused sedentary lifestyles..Hydration & Physical Activity – Risks, Challenges and Benefits (CPE Program)
Two of the world's leading experts in sports nutrition and hydration, Dr. Ronald Maughan and Dr. Bob Murray, will review the key elements related to the science of hydration and physical activity with special emphasis on the benefits of remaining properly hydrated and the risks of drinking too little or too much.Move It! - Research Updates from the Activity Side of the Energy Balance Equation (CPE Program)
In this program, Dr. Steven Blair and Dr. Timothy Church review the latest research in the fitness/fatness debate and the growing support for the role of physical activity in promoting healthful aging and preventing serious diseases, including heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and strategies for motivating clients to put more physical activity into their daily lives.Exercise is Medicine: Understanding the Evidence (Webinar)
Dr. Robert Sallis, President of the Exercise is Medicine public health initiative, discusses the powerful effect physical activity has on both the treatment and prevention of almost every chronic disease, including obesity. As the costs associated with such diseases have soared, it is clear that physical inactivity is one of the major public health problems of our time.Mindset: A New Strategy for Health Behavior Change (CPE Program)
In this program, Stanford University Professor Dr. Carol Dweck introduces Mindset, a concept that can be used with other lifestyle behavior theories and models to promote effective patient health behavior change and Dr. Lola Coke provides an overview of behavior change models and how health professionals can use these techniques to help clients achieve behavior change.Motivational Interviewing in Action: Skills & Tools to Enhance Change in Physical Activity Behavior (CPE Program)
Every healthcare professional needs a “toolkit” of different behavior change strategies to deal with diverse populations of patients. This presentation will assist healthcare professionals to utilize these tools when working with patients to increase physical activity. The program will include a role play scenario to demonstrate motivational interviewing principles. In this program, Julie Schwartz, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, ACSM-HFS, Nutri-Well Coaching, and Lola Coke, PhD, APRN-BC, ACNS, FAHA, FPCNA, board member of the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association provide a lively presentation on the principles of motivational interviewing and other behavior change tools.Overcoming the Barriers to Physical Activity (EUFIC)
In this 2009 European Food Information Council (EUFIC) podcast interview, Dr. Mikael Fogelholm, Director of the Health Research Unit at the Academy of Finland, discusses what keeps people from being physically active and how they could become more motivated.The Consequences of Sedentary Lifestyles & Why We Should Be Physically Active (EUFIC)
In this EUFIC podcast, Professors Steven Blair and Stuart Biddle discuss the impact of sedentary lifestyle behaviors and the conducive environments that support inactivity. Professor Blair details the risk associated with cardiovascular disease whilst Professor Biddle focuses on inactivity amongst Europe’s adolescents.Living Longer Healthier Lives Through Increased Physical Activity (EUFIC)
Close
In this EUFIC podcast, recorded at the Second International Conference on Physical Activity & Public Health (ICPAPH) in Amsterdam, Professors Nick Wareham and Ken Fox discuss the important part that physical activity can play in reducing the risk of chronic diseases and increasing mental well-being.
-
- Printable Downloads (brochures, educational handouts and monographs)
-
Physical Activity: The Key to Keeping Your Child Healthy
Based on “Active Healthy Lifestyle. A Guide for Parents” developed by Dr. Marcela Gonzales-Gross et al, this is one in a series of brief fact sheet for parents to help children adopt sensible, balanced fitness and nutrition habits.Helping Your Children Become Physically Active
Based on “Active Healthy Lifestyle. A Guide for Parents” developed by Dr. Marcela Gonzales-Gross et al, this is one in a series of brief fact sheet for parents to help children adopt sensible, balanced fitness and nutrition habits.Nutrition for Athletes: A Practical Guide to Eating for Health and Performance (IOC)
Developed by the Nutrition Working Group of the IOC in close collaboration with the IOC Athletes' Commission.Hydration Tips during Physical Activity
The Exercise is Medicine™ Toolkits and Handouts (EIM)
Close
The Exercise is Medicine (EIM) website has toolkits, patient handouts and materials developed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) to help health professionals use exercise as a ‘medicine’ to help prevent or manage many of the most common chronic health conditions.
-
- Tools for Active Healthy Living (calculators and widgets)
- Related References
-
Effects of aerobic and resistance training on hemoglobin A1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.
Church TS, Blair SN, Cocreham S, Johannsen N, Johnson W, Kramer K, Mikus CR, Myers V, Nauta M, Rodarte RQ, Sparks L, Thompson A, Earnest CP. JAMA. 2010 Nov 24;304(20):2253-62.Mortality trends in the general population: the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness.
Lee DC, Artero EG, Sui X, Blair SN. J Psychopharmacol. 2010 Nov;24(4 Suppl):27-35.Physical activity and survival after breast cancer diagnosis: meta-analysis of published studies
Ibrahim EM, Al-Homaidh A. Med Oncol. 2010 Apr 22. [Epub ahead of print]Comparisons of leisure-time physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness as predictors of all-cause mortality in men and women
Lee DC, Sui X, Ortega FB, Kim YS, Church TS, Winett RA, Ekelund U, Katzmarzyk PT, Blair SN.Br J Sports Med. 2010 Apr 23. [Epub ahead of print]Walking: the first steps in cardiovascular disease prevention
Murtagh EM, Murphy MH, Boone-Heinonen J. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2010 Sep;22(5):490-6.Physical activity and optimal self-rated health of adults with and without diabetes
Tsai J, Ford ES, Li C, Zhao G, Balluz LS.BMC Public Health. 2010 Jun 23;10:365.Leisure-time physical activity dose‑response effects on obesity among US adults: results from the 1999-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Seo DC, LiK. J Epidemiol Community Health 2010; 64: 426-431.A systematic review of the evidence for Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults
Warburton DE, Charlesworth S, Ivey A, Nettlefold L, Bredin SS.Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2010 May 11;7:39.Promoting Lifestyle Physical Activity: Experiences with the First Step Program
Tudor-Locke C. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2009 Jul 1;3(1 Suppl):508-548.U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report, 2008
Revisiting "how many steps are enough?"
Tudor-Locke C, Hatano Y, Pangrazi RP, Kang M. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Jul;40(7 Suppl):S537-43.Physical activity and enhanced fitness to improve cognitive function in older people without known cognitive impairment.
Angevaren M, Aufdemkampe G, Verhaar HJ, Aleman A, Vanhees L.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Apr 16;(2):CD005381.Interventions to increase walking behavior. Williams DM, Matthews CE, Rutt C, Napolitano MA, Marcus BH.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Jul;40(7 Suppl):S567-73.Physical activity is associated with risk factors for chronic disease across adult women's life cycle.
Woolf K, Reese CE, Mason MP, Beaird LC, Tudor-Locke C, Vaughan LA. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Jun;108(6):948-59.Effects of different doses of physical activity on cardiorespiratory fitness among sedentary, overweight or obese postmenopausal women with elevated blood pressure: a randomized controlled trial.
Church TS, Earnest CP, Skinner JS, Blair SN. JAMA. 2007;297:2081-91.Small changes in dietary sugar and physical activity as an approach to preventing excessive weight gain: the America on the Move family study.
Rodearmel SJ, Wyatt HR, Stroebele N, Smith SM, Ogden LG, Hill JO. Pediatrics. 2007 Oct;120(4):e869-79.Cardiorespiratory fitness and risk of nonfatal cardiovascular disease in women and men with hypertension
Sui X, LaMonte MJ, Blair SN Am J Hypertens. 2007;20:608-15.Review: Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence.
Warburton DE, Nicol CW and Bredin SS. CMAJ 2006; 174 (6). 801.Cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index as predictors of cardiovascular disease mortality among men with diabetes.
Church TS, LaMonte MJ, Barlow CE, Blair SN. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:2114-20.Exercise treatment for depression: efficacy and dose response.
Close
Dunn AL, Trivedi MH, Kampert JB, Clark CG, Chambliss HO Am J Prev Med. 2005;28:1-8.
-
- Related Websites (additional information)
-
U.S. Physical Activity Plan
The National Physical Activity Plan focuses on changing policies at the federal, state, and local levels to improve physical activity and health.EU Platform for Diet, Physical Activity and Health (EU)
Exercise is Medicine (EIM)
Let’s Move! (US)
U.S. President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
America on the Move (US)
American Council on Exercise (US)
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
European Food Information Council (EUFIC)
Great Fun2Run (UK)
Close
-
Expand All
Collapse All