Obesity - Physical activity

Obesity

Physical activity and obesity

If you don't get enough exercise for the amount you eat, you might put on weight. This can lead to obesity. To keep your health and weight in check, you should have at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. But fewer than one-third of Americans do this.

Source:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The Surgeon General's call to action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity.
January 2007. Available at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity (accessed on 20 April 2009).

Our modern lifestyle makes it harder to burn calories. We tend to go everywhere in cars, and watch sports on television rather than playing sports. And we spend more time sitting at computer screens.
It might seem as though we're rushing around doing a great deal. But it's no longer common for people to carry heavy groceries, cycle or walk to work, do heavy chores around the house, or dig in the garden.
We have to make a special effort to take any exercise at all. It can be difficult to find time for exercise. Many Americans work long hours and spend little time on vacation.

Sources for the information on this page:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.The Surgeon General's call to action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity.January 2007. Available at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity (accessed on 20 April 2009).

This information was last updated on Jul 13, 2009

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