According to guidelines released by the federal government on Monday, a majority of Americans are costing the health care system in excess of $100 billion per year due to not getting the exercise they need.
The recently released guidelines closely match those from a decade ago with the difference being that Americans should “move more and sit less” as often as possible. The previous guidelines suggested that 10-minute blocks of physical activity are the best method.
Officials say that health benefits can result from any amount of exercise, with some of those benefits coming immediately, such as reduced anxiety and improved sleep quality.
“The new guidelines demonstrate that, based on the best science, everyone can dramatically improve their health just by moving — anytime, anywhere, and by any means that gets you active,” said Dr. Brett P. Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services.
When it comes to children ages 6 to 7, recommendations include an hour of “moderate-to-vigorous” activity daily and muscle-strengthening activity twice a week. This marks the first time that suggestions also consist of preschool-age children having no less than three hours of daily “active play.”
Moderate-to-vigorous activity such as running or “anything that makes the heart beat faster” should be completed by adults for roughly two and a half hours each week.
Findings from the Journal of the American Medical Association have shown that many Americans are falling short of the minimums as standards are only being met by 26% of men, 19% of women and 20% of adolescents. In the wake of this information, the United States health care system takes a $117 billion hit each year, while lack of exercise also leads to approximately 10% of premature deaths.
“When we move more, we have better cardiovascular health, we are stronger and less susceptible to disease, and we feel better,” Giroir said. “Physical activity can help manage chronic conditions that many Americans already have.”
As a result of newly-discovered evidence, updates guidelines claim that exercise can reduce anxiety symptoms, slow hypertension progression and Type 2 diabetes, along with assisting in the prevention of eight types of cancer in adults.
Cognition improvement and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease can stem from exercising adults that have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or dementia.
“These guidelines are fairly clear that there’s strong evidence that physical activity reduces a person’s risk for developing dementia,” said Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association.
While the Alzheimer’s Association had no involvement in the construction of the guidelines, the group says that while exercise cannot cure the disease, it surely can help in lowering the risk of a cognitive decrease.
“That’s something you can do right now, today,” Fargo said, “People can begin to take their risk for dementia into their own hands.”
Following the government’s announcement on Monday, the American Heart Association came forward in support by announcing it would adopt the government’s exercise standards.
“We urge other health groups and interested parties across the country to adopt the guidelines and join us in committing to help ensure more people get moving,” said Dr. Ivor Benjamin, the group’s president, adding that exercise can “help people live longer, healthier lives for themselves, their families and their communities.”
