A Report of the Surgeon General: Physical Activity and
Health for Women
Key Messages:
- Physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve health
benefits.
- Women of all ages benefit from a moderate amount of
physical activity, preferably daily. The same effect of activity can be
obtained in longer sessions of moderately intense activities (such as 30
minutes of brisk walking) or in shorter sessions of more strenuous activities
(such as 15-20 minutes of jogging).
- Additional health benefits can be gained through greater
amounts of physical activity. Women who can maintain a regular routine of
physical activity that is of longer duration or of greater intensity are likely
to have greater benefit. However, excessive activity should be avoided, because
risk of injury increases with greater amounts of activity, as do the risks of
menstrual abnormalities and bone weakening.
- Previously sedentary women who begin physical activity
programs should start with short intervals (5–10 minutes) of physical
activity and gradually build up to the desired level of activity.
- Women with chronic health problems, such as heart
disease, diabetes, or obesity or women who are at high risk for these
conditions, should first consult a physician before beginning a new program of
physical activity. Women over age 50 who plan to begin a new program of
vigorous physical activity should first consult a physician to be sure they do
not have heart disease or other health problems.
- The emphasis on moderate amounts of physical activity
makes it possible to vary activities to meet individual needs, preferences, and
life circumstances.
Facts:
- More than 60 percent of U.S. women do not engage in the
recommended amount of physical activity.
- More than 25 percent of U.S. women are not active at
all.
- Physical inactivity is more common among women than
men.
- Social support from family and friends has been
consistently and positively related to regular physical activity.
Benefits of Physical Activity:
- Reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and
of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.
- Helps maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.
- Helps control weight, build lean muscle, and reduce body
fat.
- Helps control joint swelling and pain associated with
arthritis.
- Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters
improvements in mood and feelings of well-being.
- Can help reduce blood pressure in some women with
hypertension.
What Communities Can Do:
- Provide environmental inducements to physical activity,
such as safe, accessible, and attractive trails for walking and bicycling and
sidewalks with curb cuts.
- Open schools for community recreation, form neighborhood
watch groups to increase safety, and encourage malls and other indoor or
protected locations to provide safe places for walking in any weather.
- Encourage employers to provide supportive worksite
environments and policies that offer opportunities for employees to incorporate
moderate physical activity into their daily lives.
- Provide community-based programs to meet the needs of
older women, women with disabilities, women of racial and ethnic minority
groups, and women with low incomes. Include childcare arrangements to encourage
the participation of women with children.
- Encourage health care providers to talk routinely to
female patients about incorporating physical activity into their lives.
For more information contact:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of
Nutrition and Physical Activity,
MS K-46 4770 Buford Highway, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341–3724
1-888-CDC-4NRG or 1-888-232-4674 (Toll
Free)
http://www.cdc.gov
The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 738H
Washington, DC 20201
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The
President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
|
