The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that adults participate in “moderate-intensity” physical activity — walking briskly, dancing, swimming or bicycling — 30 minutes a day at least five days a week.

Many Americans continue to eat more and exercise less.  The result—nearly two-thirds of Americans are now overweight or obese, according to the CDC. 

In response to this trend, the new science-based Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 put a stronger emphasis on increasing physical activity for better health and to maintain a healthy weight. 

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines recommend:

• To reduce your risk of chronic disease, engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week.
• For greater health benefits, exercise more vigorously and longer.
• For weight management, engage in 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity most days of the week and not consume more calories than you need. 
• To maintain weight loss, engage in 60 to 90 minutes of daily moderate-intensity physical activity and not consume more calories than they need.

The Dietary Guidelines are a joint project of the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture.  They are reviewed and updated every five years.

For tips on how to get more physically active, check out website www.healthierus.gov.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005.