Physical activity and public health: updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association.

Description

The aim of this position paper jointly published by the ACSM and AHA was to update and clarify the previous 1995 recommendations (by the ACSM and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) regarding the amount and type of physical activity needed by healthy adults to improve and maintain health. It is suggested to perform moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes, 5 days/week. Vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 20 minutes, 3 days/week is also recommended. Moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activities can also be combined. Moreover, activities aimed at maintaining or improving muscular strength and endurance should be performed at least 2 days/week. In addition, because of the dose-response relationship between physical activity and health, individuals who wish to improve their fitness further (and thereby lower their risk of chronic diseases and/or disabilities while also preventing weight gain) may benefit from performing physical activity over the minimum amounts recommended.