Physical Activity Guidelines for Young Children: An Emerging Consensus

Strong evidence demonstrates that regular physical activity has health benefits for everyone, regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, or body size.

“Strong evidence demonstrates that regular physical activity has health benefits for everyone, regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, or body size.”

With greater amounts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, the risk of a given amount of sitting time is reduced.

“With greater amounts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, the risk of a given amount of sitting time is reduced.”

Recent evidence shows a complex relationship between the effects of sitting time and duration of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality.

“recent evidence shows a complex relationship between the effects of sitting time and duration of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality.4”

Physical activity fosters normal growth and development and can make people feel better, function better, sleep better, and reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.

“The evidence reviewed by the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee4 for the newly released Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition5 (PAG) is clear–physical activity fosters normal growth and development and can make people feel better, function better, sleep better, and reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.”

Guidance for adults no longer requires physical activity to occur in bouts of at least 10 minutes.

“Guidance for adults no longer requires physical activity to occur in bouts of at least 10 minutes.”

Some health benefits occur immediately after physical activity, such as reduced feelings of anxiety, reduced blood pressure, and improved sleep, cognitive function, and insulin sensitivity.

“Some benefits occur immediately, such as reduced feelings of anxiety, reduced blood pressure, and improved sleep, cognitive function, and insulin sensitivity.”

Other health benefits, such as increased cardiorespiratory fitness, increased muscular strength, decreased depressive symptoms, and sustained reduction in blood pressure, accrue over months or years of physical activity.

“Other benefits, such as increased cardiorespiratory fitness, increased muscular strength, decreased depressive symptoms, and sustained reduction in blood pressure, accrue over months or years of physical activity.”

Bouts, or episodes, of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of any duration may be included in the accumulated total volume of physical activity.

“Bouts, or episodes, of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of any duration may be included in the accumulated total volume of physical activity.”