GUIDELINES - Less gym, more fun

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Exercise Guidelines: Less Gym, More Fun

Federal Guidelines Say Americans Should Pick a Physical Activity They

Can Stick With

By Todd Zwillich

WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 7, 2008

Children and adolescents should get at least one hour of exercise

every day, and adults should get at least two and one-half hours of

physical activity per week, according to new federal guidelines.

The guidelines urge Americans to become physically active to reduce

weight, stave off chronic diseases, and live longer. But unlike

previous efforts, the recommendations de-emphasize gym exercise in

favor of activities people are more likely to enjoy.

" Pick an activity that's easy for you to fit into your life, " says

O. Leavitt, secretary of the Health and Human Services

Department, which released the guidelines. " You just need to get

moving. "

An advisory panel that authored the guidelines recommended daily

physical activity for nearly all Americans. Children and adolescents,

they said, should get at least one hour of physical activity each day,

with more intense exercise on at least three days out of the week.

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http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news/20081007/exercise-guidelines-less-gym\

-more-fun

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