The Challenge!
According to A Report of the Surgeon General; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity and The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (2009):
HOW PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IMPACTS HEALTH
Regular physical activity that is performed on most days of the week reduces the risk of developing or dying from some of the leading causes of illness and death in the United States. Regular physical activity improves health in the following ways:
- Reduces the risk of dying prematurely.
- Reduces the risk of dying prematurely from heart disease.
- Reduces the risk of developing diabetes.
- Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure.
- Helps reduce blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure.
- Reduces the risk of developing colon cancer.
- Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety.
- Helps control weight.
- Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.
- Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling.
- Promotes psychological well-being.
HEALTH BURDENS THAT COULD BE REDUCED THROUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Millions of Americans suffer from illnesses that can be prevented or improved through regular physical activity.
- 13.5 million people have coronary heart disease.
- 1.5 million people suffer from a heart attack in a given year.
- 8 million people have adult-onset (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.
- 95,000 people are newly diagnosed with colon cancer each year.
- 250,000 people suffer from a hip fractures each year.
- 50 million people have high blood pressure.
- Over 60 million people (a third of the population) are overweight.
A NEW VIEW OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:
This report brings together, for the first time, what has been learned about physical activity and health from decades of research. Among its major findings:
- People who are usually inactive can improve their health and well-being by becoming even moderately active on a regular basis.
- Physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve health benefits.
Greater health benefits can be achieved by increasing the amount (duration, frequency, or intensity) of physical activity.
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