Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans are a set of recommendations provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help individuals improve their health through regular physical activity. These guidelines are updated every five years based on the latest scientific evidence.

Overview

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans provide evidence-based advice on how physical activity can help promote health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. The guidelines are intended for health professionals and policy makers to help them provide accurate advice and guidance to individuals of all ages and conditions.

Guidelines

The guidelines recommend that adults should do at least 150 minutes to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes to 150 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. They should also do muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week.

For children and adolescents aged 6 through 17 years, the guidelines recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily. Most of the 60 minutes should be either moderate- or vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity, and should include vigorous-intensity physical activity at least 3 days a week.

Benefits of Physical Activity

Regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of several chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. It can also improve mental health and mood, strengthen bones and muscles, improve sleep, increase lifespan, and improve overall quality of life.

See Also

• Exercise
• Physical fitness
• Healthy diet
• Preventive healthcare