About Physical Activity

Key points

  • Physical activity is one of the best things people can do to improve their health.
  • Physical activity is vital for healthy aging. It can help reduce the chances of getting some chronic diseases and prevent early deaths.
  • CDC works with state and local organizations to increase physical activity.
Family walking in the park with a soccer ball.

Why it matters

Active people generally live longer and are at less risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some cancers. For people with chronic diseases, physical activity can help manage these conditions and complications.

About one in two adults lives with a chronic disease. Of adults with chronic diseases, about half have two or more.

Only one in four U.S. adults fully meet the physical activity guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity. Getting enough physical activity could prevent:

  • 1 in 10 premature deaths
  • 1 in 8 cases of breast cancer
  • 1 in 12 cases of diabetes
  • 1 in 15 cases of heart disease

See health benefits for:

Community benefits

Building active and walkable communities can help economically. It can also improve safety, result in the workforce taking fewer sick days, and promote social interactions.

Health care costs

$117 billion in annual health care costs are associated with inadequate physical activity.

Military readiness

Only 2 in 5 young adults are weight-eligible and physically prepared for basic training. "Long-term military readiness is at risk unless a large-scale change in physical activity and nutrition takes place in America," said Allen Peck, Lieutenant General, U.S. Air Force (Retired).

Keep Reading: Physical Activity Builds a Healthy and Strong America

What CDC is doing

CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity partners with national groups, states, and communities to advance the following priorities:

Active People, Healthy NationSM is a CDC initiative to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. To reach this goal, CDC works with states and communities to carry out evidence-based strategies to increase physical activity.

CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) works with three state and local programs to increase access to places for physical activity for all people:

We also fund the Physical Activity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (PAPREN). The network works across sectors to advance the evidence base for physical activity policies. It also puts research into practice with a shared vision: active people in active communities, supported by equitable, sustainable policies and practices.

Family of 3 riding bikes
Communities can make it easier for people to walk or roll to everyday destinations.

Priorities

We encourage state and local organizations to use community design to connect pedestrian, bicycle, or transit transportation networks (called activity-friendly routes) to everyday destinations.

We also partner with states to implement policies and practices that improve physical activity in early care and education settings.

Milestones

CDC is assessing progress toward the Active People, Healthy Nation goal by measuring:

  • Physical activity levels
  • Community design
  • Champions' support
Keep Reading: Data and Progress

Resources


Physical Activity Basics

What You Can Do to Meet Physical Activity Recommendations

Physical Activity and Your Weight

Benefits of Physical Activity

Active People, Healthy Nation℠

Moving Matters for My Health

Military Readiness

Public Health Strategies for Increasing Physical Activity

Community Design Resources

National Physical Activity Plan

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition

Step it Up! The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities

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