New Physical Activity Guidelines State Even 2-Minute Walks Count Towards Health

Physical activity is important for overall health. Many are probably aware of the American Heart Association’s recommended guidelines of 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week. New guidelines have been issued that state just 2 minutes of activity has enough effect to be added towards the weekly recommended amount.
Previous guidelines stated that physical activity that lasted less than 10 minutes could not be counted towards a person’s recommended weekly goals. It was thought that time periods of less than 10 minutes didn’t really contribute to overall health. However, new research shows that smaller amounts of physical activity do provide a solid contribution to a person’s wellness.
It’s important to talk about physical activity as only 26% of men and 19% of women meet weekly recommended guidelines. Inactivity causes 10% of premature mortality in the U.S., according to the US. Department of Health and Human Services.
However, before jumping into any new exercise regimen, talk to your doctor. He or she will be able to recommend appropriate exercises for you based on your health and circumstances.
Source:
Nov. 12, 2018, media briefing with: Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Eileen Handberg, M.D., professor, cardiovascular medicine, University of Florida’s College of Medicine, Gainesville; Nov. 12, 2018, presentation, American Heart Association annual meeting, Chicago; Nov. 12, 2018, Journal of the American Medical Association, online