Wellness

Get up, get busy and
move that body


So goes the beginning of a popular song. After release of the Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity last summer, we might want to consider adopting that song as our national anthem.

The first ever Report on Physical Activity, developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the President's Council on Physical Fitness, has important implications for each of us. If you dislike vigorous exercise or have found it difficult to stick to a vigorous exercise program in the past, you'll be pleased with the report's findings. The bottom line is that you can substantially improve your health and quality of life by including moderate amounts of physical activity in your daily life. That means you don't have to go out and train for a marathon to achieve real health benefits-even gardening counts.

Consider these major conclusions:
Health benefits from regular moderate physical activity are achievable for most of us. Do yourself a favor and start today to "get up and move that body."

Colleen Doyle is a registered dietitian and program director for the
Seretean Center for Health Promotion in the Rollins School of Public Health.



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