posted October 7, 2008
Rep. Zach Wamp said he welcomes action by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today to introduce a comprehensive set of physical activity recommendations for people of all ages and physical conditions.
The new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans were designed to help people easily fit physical activity into their daily plan and incorporate the activities they enjoy.
According to the guidelines, adults gain substantial health benefits from two and a half hours a week of moderate aerobic physical activity, and children benefit from an hour or more of physical activity a day.
Rep. Wamp said, “Publishing physical activity guidelines may persuade Americans to live a healthier lifestyle. We need to instill a culture of healthy living, including physical activity, to combat the obesity epidemic and work toward reducing chronic disease in America.
“Obesity has led to significant increases in health care costs, especially in chronic diseases. Simply put, this level of health care spending is threatening the health of our economy.”
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans indicates that physical activity benefits children and adolescents, young and middle-aged adults, older adults, and those in every studied racial and ethnic group.
The HHS recommendations include the latest knowledge about activity and health, with enough flexibility to target specific population subgroups such as seniors, children and persons with disabilities.
For more information about the “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans,” visit www.health.gov/paguidelines.
To help turn the tide of the growing obesity epidemic, Congressman Wamp is the lead co-sponsor of the Physical Activities Guidelines for Americans Act of 2008, which would require HHS to prepare and promote these physical activity guidelines at least every five years.
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