-
Issues in Health
Care Policy
The Challenges of Medicare Part D,
Even Amid Decreased Complaints
Prescriptions for Dually
Eligible Beneficiaries May
Cost More under Medicare
Proposed Pilot Program Would
Expand At-Home Health Services
- Aging Well and the Presidential Election
ASA Says Details are
Needed in Candidates’
Aging-Related Platforms
- The Economy
and Aging
Economy is Changing the Way Americans Take Care of Health
President of AAHSA Interviewed
on the Economy
Ziegler Capital Markets on Recent Economic Concerns
- Nursing Home Quality
Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction Among Nursing Home Workers
The Nursing Home Survey on
Patient Safety Culture
CARE Wisconsin Leading the
Charge for Culture Change
- Ways to Age Well
Government Issues First
Science-Based Guidelines
for Fitness
How Engaged are Consumers
in Their Health?
Regular Eye Exams Could
Help Prevent Impairment
Government Issues First Science-Based Guidelines for Fitness
By Richard Shank
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans outlines the type and amount of physical activities that will offer the greatest health benefits to Americans. The main idea behind the guidelines is that regular physical activity over months and years can produce long-term health benefits.
The accompanying website includes a briefing for policymakers, an individualized guide for adults ages 18 to 64, a toolkit for community organizations and businesses, and an advisory report for health care professionals and researchers. Each of these documents can be accessed for personal use on the Internet.
These guidelines are the result of the first major review in more than a decade on the science behind the benefits of physical activity. They offer a range of physical activities that can be tailored to each individual’s interest, and also contain helpful recommendations for a wide range of groups, including children, adolescents, adults, older adults, persons with disabilities, pregnant and postpartum women, and persons with some chronic conditions.
The basic premise is that regular physical activity reduces the risk of many adverse health outcomes and that some physical activity is better than none. However, the goal is for Americans to realize that, for most health conditions, the more physical activity one engages in and the greater the intensity of that activity, the more positive the health benefits will be. Individuals should see health benefits with a minimum of 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity each week. Additional benefits will occur with more physical activity.
Finally, the guidelines stress that the health benefits of physical activity are attainable for any American hoping to better their health, and that the benefits of exercise outweigh any risk of injury or heart attack.
To access this information, see the Health and Human Services website at: http://www.health.gov.
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