Recommendations & Guidelines

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Among Youth 
U.S. Health and Human Services reviewed evidence-based strategies for increasing physical activity in young people ages 3 to 17. The report examines five settings with opportunities for youth to be more active: school, preschool and childcare center, community, home, and healthcare. According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, children and adolescents 6 years and older can achieve important health benefits by getting 1 hour (60 minutes) or more of daily physical activity. The Mid-course Report emphasizes the importance of children getting 60 minutes of activity throughout their entire day.

2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
The Federal Government has issued the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans to describe the types and amounts of physical activity that offer substantial health benefits to Americans.

Trends in Meeting the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines, 2008—2015 [PDF-170KB]
Information on the percentage of adults and adolescents meeting the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

2008 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report [PDF-4.59MB]

The National Physical Activity Plan
This comprehensive set of policies, programs and initiatives aim to increase physical activity in all segments of the American population.

Guidelines for School and Community Programs to Promote Lifelong Physical Activity Among Young People
This document identifies strategies most likely to be effective in helping young people adopt and maintain a physically active lifestyle.

Physical Activity: Built Environment Approaches Combining Transportation System Interventions with Land Use and Environmental Design
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends built environment strategies that combine one or more interventions to improve pedestrian or bicycle transportation systems with one or more land use and environmental design interventions to increase physical activity.