Cited by 508Physical Activity and Health

Physical activity guidelines for Americans from the US Department of Health and Human Services

Open access
Piercy, Katrina L., Troiano, Richard P.·2018·Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes

Abstract

he American Heart Association focuses on reducing factors known to increase risk for heart disease and stroke through Life's Simple 7. By focusing on these factors, American Heart Association seeks to both improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans and reduce deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20% by the year 2020. 1 Physical activity has a strong and positive impact on several of these factors-blood pressure, blood glucose, and body weight, in addition to overall risk for cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality.With the recent release of the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (PAG), 2 more is known about the benefits of physical activity, and the news is good-benefits start even earlier and are easier to obtain than was previously thought.The PAG is based on the work of a 17-member Advisory Committee that conducted an extensive review of the literature on physical activity and health.The Advisory Committee graded the evidence as strong, moderate, limited, or grade not assignable and summarized its findings in the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report.3 Evidence graded as strong or moderate was used as the basis for the PAG.Some of the strongest evidence was on risk factors for cardiovascular disease that can be modified by physical activity, including blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids, and body weight.The PAG recommends that adults do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity a week, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorousintensity activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate-and vigorous-intensity activity.The key guidelines for adults are described in Table 1.Intensity can be measured in different ways but generally can be determined using the talk test.During moderate-intensity activity, a person can talk, but not sing.During vigorous-intensity activity, a person cannot say more than a few words without pausing for a breath.Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities of moderate or greater intensity, and that involve all major muscle groups on ≥2 days a week.Currently, only 22% of adults meet the combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening targets, whereas 36% report doing no leisure-time physical activity.4 LESS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS NEEDED THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT TO OBTAIN BENEFITSAlthough meeting the PAG should be the goal, the threshold at which health benefits begin to accrue is less than 150 minutes a week for most outcomes.The biggest bang for your buck is moving from being inactive to doing some physical activity each week.There is no lower limit to the benefits of physical activity in reducing cardiovascular disease risk.The amount of physical activity recommended in the PAG takes into account the wide range of health outcomes associated with

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1161/circoutcomes.118.005263

Cites

1 of 1 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 42 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Premisecitation

    The threshold at which health benefits begin to accrue is less than 150 minutes a week for most outcomes.

    “Although meeting the PAG should be the goal, the threshold at which health benefits begin to accrue is less than 150 minutes a week for most outcomes.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Premisecitation

    The positive relationship between overall cardiovascular health and regular physical activity is well established.

    “The positive relationship between overall cardiovascular health and regular physical activity is well established.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Premisecitation

    Additional physical activity confers additional benefits.

    “On the other end of the spectrum, additional physical activity confers additional benefits, and health risk does not seem to increase with high amounts of physical activity, even beyond 3 to 5 times the 150 minutes a week recommendation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Interpretationreasoning

    Short bouts of activity, such as parking farther away or walking up stairs, contribute to overall benefits.

    “This means parking farther away from the store or walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator-even if it is only a few minutes of activity-contributes to overall benefits.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Premisecitation

    Compared with inactive adults, meeting the PAG is associated with a 14% reduced risk of developing coronary heart disease.

    “Compared with inactive adults, meeting the PAG is associated with a 14% reduced risk of developing coronary heart disease.3”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
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      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims. 15
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 3
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Those who meet the PAG achieve about 75% of the maximal risk reduction in all-cause mortality and approximately a 40% reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality.

    “Those who meet the PAG will achieve about 75% of the maximal risk reduction in all-cause mortality and approximately a 40% reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality.3”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A minimum bout of 10 minutes is no longer necessary to accumulate the benefits of physical activity; the total amount is what matters.

    “Evidence shows that getting a minimum bout (previously 10 minutes in duration in the first edition of the PAG) is no longer necessary to accumulate the benefits of physical activity; the total amount is what matters.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Physical activity has a strong positive impact on blood pressure, blood glucose, body weight, and overall risk of cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality.

    “Physical activity has a strong and positive impact on several of these factors-blood pressure, blood glucose, and body weight, in addition to overall risk for cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The Advisory Committee's confidence in the relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular health is high, and the strength of evidence is unlikely to be modified by additional studies.

    “The Advisory Committee highlighted its confidence in the relationship, noting the strength of the evidence is unlikely to be modified by additional studies on this topic.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In both normal and prehypertensive populations, blood pressure reductions associated with regular physical activity can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 4% to 5% and stroke by 6% to 8%.

    “In both populations, the blood pressure reductions associated with regular physical activity can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 4% to 5% and stroke by 6% to 8%. 3”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
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      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Some of the benefits of physical activity may be attributable to its impact on circulation.

    “Some of these benefits may be attributable to physical activity's impact on circulation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Physical activity has acute benefits in reducing anxiety and improving cognition.

    “A new area of study for the Advisory Committee was brain health, which showed acute benefits of physical activity in reducing anxiety and improving cognition.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Among adults with hypertension, physical activity can reduce blood pressure, reduce the risk of increased blood pressure over time, and thereby slow the progression of cardiovascular disease.

    “Among adults with hypertension, physical activity can reduce blood pressure, reduce the risk of increased blood pressure over time, and thereby slow the progression of cardiovascular disease.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The benefits of physical activity are extensive and affect many aspects of health, both physical and mental.

    “Although this article focuses on cardiovascular health, the benefits of physical activity are extensive and affect many aspects of health, both physical and mental.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Long-term physical activity is linked with reducing risk of dementia, reducing risk of depression, and improving quality of life.

    “Long-term physical activity is linked with reducing risk of dementia, risk of depression, and improving quality of life.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Sedentary behavior is strongly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

    “Sedentary behavior is strongly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, physical activity can reduce hemoglobin A1C, blood pressure, body mass index, and blood lipids, all indicators of type 2 diabetes mellitus progression.

    “Among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, physical activity can reduce hemoglobin A1C, blood pressure, body mass index, and blood lipids, all indicators of type 2 diabetes mellitus progression.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Muscle-strengthening activities provide additional health benefits.

    “Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities of moderate or greater intensity, and that involve all major muscle groups on ≥2 days a week, as these activities provide additional health benefits.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [2]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The PAG concludes that all Americans can benefit from moving more and sitting less throughout the day.

    “Combining this evidence with the benefits of physical activity, the PAG concludes that all Americans can benefit from moving more and sitting less throughout the day.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [2]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Physical activity can improve physical function and the risk of falling, as well as the risk of injury if a fall occurs.

    “Physical activity can also improve physical function and the risk of falling, as well as the risk of injury if a fall occurs.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Physical activity can attenuate weight gain over time, helping to delay or reduce the risk of becoming overweight or obese.

    “Physical activity can attenuate weight gain over time, helping to delay or reduce the risk of becoming overweight or obese.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus is greatly reduced with physical activity, and this benefit is observed irrespective of body weight.

    “Risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus is greatly reduced with physical activity, and this benefit is observed irrespective of body weight.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Some physical activity is better than none, and more physical activity is even better.

    “Some physical activity is better than none, and more physical activity is even better.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [2]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

18 of 18

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • For individuals with a ventilatory threshold below 3.4-4.5 METs, conducting common activities of daily living would constitute exercise typical of what might be prescribed.

    “For those with a VT below 3.4-4.5METs, conducting common ADLs (e.g., household chores, self-care, low-intensity physical activity) would constitute exercise typical of what might be prescribed (36,37).”

    From Ventilatory Threshold Related to VO2reserve, Heart Rate Reserve, and Rating of Perceived Exertion in a Large Varied Sample (2023) · cites this paper as [36]

    The Key Guidelines for Adults (Conclusions; page unavailable) say that some physical activity is better than none, but do not address whether daily activities constitute prescribed exercise for people with a low ventilatory threshold. Searches for “ventilatory threshold 3.4–4.5 METs” and for household chores, self-care, and prescribed exercise found no passage addressing that claim. (LLM, conf=0.74)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2018.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Piercy, K. L., & Troiano, R. P.
Affiliations
  • Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Venue
Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes
Published
2018-11
Volume
11
Issue
11
Pages
e005263-e005263
ISSN
  • 1941-7705 (ISSN-L)
  • 1941-7713
OpenAlex
W2900521825
Cited by
508
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 72 · 2024: 66 · 2023: 80 · 2022: 71 · 2021: 82 · 2020: 50 · 2019: 25 · 2017: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
Keywords
physical activity guidelines, cardiovascular disease prevention, Life's Essential 8, cardiovascular risk factors, blood pressure, blood glucose, body weight, serum lipids
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, American Heart Association, Cardiovascular Diseases, Child, Expert Testimony, Humans, United States

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