Not to be negative, but I wasn’t really surprised when I saw a new report about how so many Americans are missing their exercise goals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about a third of adults are not meeting the minimum levels of physical activity from the newly released 2008 Guidelines.
Those guidelines recommend two and a half hours a week of moderate activity, like brisk walking, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous activity, like running. Doesn’t seem like that much, does it?
Other guidelines – from the government’s Healthy People 2010 – say we need at least 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week. Only half of those surveyed in the CDC’s report meet those goals.
And even stronger guidelines come from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) – that groups says we should exercise at least an hour a day to maintain our health and weight.
Why so many guidelines? Which ones – if any – do you follow?
Me – I’ve been slacking a little because of the evil winter season (we don’t get along), but my exercise levels are usually more along the guidelines of the IOM.
