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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition

About this resource:

HHS Non-systematic Review

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018

Last Reviewed: 2018

Workgroups: Older Adults Workgroup, Educational and Community-Based Programs Workgroup, Maternal, Infant, and Child Health Workgroup, Physical Activity Workgroup, Arthritis Workgroup

This second edition of Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans provides science-based guidance to help people ages 3 years and older be  healthier through regular physical activity. It describes the benefits of being physically active, recommends how much and what kinds of exercise are beneficial for different people, and includes new information about the benefits of physical activity, like:

  • Improved brain health
  • Reduced cancer risk
  • Smaller risk of fall-related injuries
  • Immediate and longer-term positive effects on how people feel, function, and sleep
  • Other benefits among older adults and people with long-term conditions

The Guidelines also includes information about the risks of being physically inactive and gives additional guidance for children, adults, and the population as a whole.

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Objectives related to this resource (4)

Increase the proportion of older adults with physical or cognitive health problems who get physical activity — OA‑01
Baseline only
Increase the proportion of adolescents who participate in daily school physical education — ECBP‑01
Little or no detectable change
Increase the proportion of women who had a healthy weight before pregnancy — MICH‑13
Getting worse
Reduce the proportion of adults with arthritis who have moderate or severe joint pain — A‑01
Little or no detectable change

Suggested Citation

1.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition. Retrieved from https://health.gov/paguidelines/second-edition/pdf/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf