Do Right!®

Benefits

Being physically active as a child offers similar benefits for the body as adults. There is also another area that children can benefit from being active. Children who are physically active and fit tend to have better academic achievement. There is also evidence that suggest that higher levels of physical fitness is linked to better school attendance and fewer disciplinary problems. Children who are active reap the benefit of a healthy body and a healthy mind.

People who engage in physical activity regularly will see benefits to their health in a variety of ways including:

Reduced risk of:

• Developing coronary heart disease
• Suffering from a stroke
• Having a second heart attack (for those who have had a previous heart attack)
• Developing colon cancer
• Feelings of depression and/or anxiety

The lowering of:

• Total cholesterol and triglycerides
• Developing high blood pressure
• Developing type 2 diabetes

And helps with:

• Reducing blood pressure in those who already suffer from high blood pressure
• Achieve and maintain an individual’s healthy weight
• Promote psychological well-being
• Reduce stress
• Build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints

Below are the percentages of people by race in the U.S. population in 2007 who achieved various physical activity levels.

Recommended Physical Activity

White: 51.7%

Black: 40.5%

Hispanic: 42.1%

Other: 45.3%

Insufficient Physical Activity

White: 37.4%

Black: 39.8%

Hispanic: 36.5%

Other: 39.0%

Inactive Physical Activity

White: 10.8%

Black: 19.7%

Hispanic: 21.4%

Other: 15.7%

**"Other" race is defined as respondents who classified themselves as Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Other race.

"Recommended physical activity is defined as reported moderate-intensity activities in a usual week (i.e., brisk walking, bicycling, vacuuming, gardening, or anything else that causes small increases in breathing or heart rate) for at least 30 minutes per day, at least 5 days per week; or vigorous-intensity activities in a usual week (i.e., running, aerobics, heavy yard work, or anything else that causes large increases in breathing or heart rate) for at least 20 minutes per day, at least 3 days per week or both. This can be accomplished through lifestyle activities (i.e., household, transportation, or leisure-time activities). "

"Insufficient physical activity is defined as doing more than 10 minutes total per week of moderate or vigorous-intensity lifestyle activities (i.e., household, transportation, or leisure-time activity), but less than the recommended level of activity."

"Inactivity is defined as less than 10 minutes total per week of moderate or vigorous-intensity lifestyle activities (i.e., household, transportation, or leisure-time activity)."