Most American
adults don't exercise enough, but updated national guidelines for physical
fitness allow for flexibility and will make it easier to determine how
much is enough to maintain good health, according to Health Fitness Corporation
(HFC) , a national leader in worksite health management.
The American
College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association released
the new national guidelines Aug. 1. For the first time in a dozen years,
experts updated and clarified national physical activity guidelines which
define the minimum physical activity required to maintain good health.
The lead author
of the report is William L. Haskell of Stanford University's School of
Medicine, who also serves on HFC's Science Advisory Board.
"The new standards
don't wipe away the old guidelines, but clarify them and make it much easier
to interpret a mixed batch of exercise intensity levels," said Gregg Lehman,
Ph.D., president and CEO of HFC.
"We are already
incorporating the guidelines into all our health management products, including
our health assessments, fitness management protocols, and our EMPOWERED(TM)
health coaching materials."
"Developing
a culture of health requires a clear understanding of what steps our employees
should take to stay healthy and reduce the risks for chronic illness,"
Lehman said. "HFC associates at worksites nationwide have the expertise
to apply these guidelines, as well as nutrition and other health management
protocols, so they can help individuals meet their health management goals."
HFC is a leading
provider of employee health management programs. Managing more than 400
fitness centers globally, the company also offers a suite of health management
services on-site, Web-based and telephonically.
The guidelines
were developed by an expert panel of scientists, including physicians,
epidemiologists, exercise scientists, and public health specialists.
The panel considered
new scientific evidence relating physical activity to health, physical
activity recommendations released by respected organizations since the
original guidelines were released in 1995, and considered ways to clearly
communicate the guidelines.
The group recommended
that, in order to maintain good health, all healthy adults need moderate-intensity
aerobic physical activity (such as brisk walking) for at least 30 minutes
for five days each week, or vigorous- intensity aerobic physical activity
(such as jogging) for at least 20 minutes for three days each week.
The report helpfully
outlines variations and combinations of vigorous-intensity workouts and
moderate-intensity workouts, and also recommends that every adult should
perform activities that maintain or increase muscular strength and endurance
at least two days each week.
Those who want
to lose weight or improve their personal fitness should exercise more than
the minimum recommendations.
--
Copyright
2007 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
-- |
