Get moving, CDC tells U.S. adults

Moderate- or vigorous-intensity exercise a few times a week goes a long way.

By Stephanie Stapleton, AMNews staff. May 14, 2007.

Half of U.S. adults do not meet recommended levels of physical activity.

The 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System found that 38% of adults were insufficiently active and 14% were inactive, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Evidence is clear regarding the health benefits of exercise and the role inactivity plays in the nation's weight problem as well as its associated morbidity and mortality.

The CDC, the American College of Sports Medicine and Healthy People 2010 recommend that adults should strive to engage in moderate-intensity physical activities for at least 30 minutes on five or more days each week, or in vigorous-intensity physical activity three or more days per week for at least 20 minutes per occasion.

The CDC-ACSM guidelines categorize moderate activity as burning 3.5 kcal to 7 kcal per minute. Examples include walking or biking on even terrain at 3 mph to 4.5 mph or 5 mph to 9 mph, respectively. Vigorous activity is classified as burning more than 7 kcal/minute. Race walking at 5 mph or faster, or biking at a minimum of 10 mph or riding primarily uphill, meet this standard.

More CDC information and physical activity resources for health professionals are online (www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/health_professionals).