Why Should People be Active?
Physical activity benefits health immediately and over time.
For Adults
Immediate Benefits
A single bout of moderate-to vigorous physical activity provides immediate benefits for your health.
- Sleep
– Improves sleep quality - Less Anxiety
– Reduces feelings of anxiety - Blood Pressure
– Reduces blood pressure
Long-term Benefits
Regular physical activity provides important health benefits for chronic disease prevention.
- Brain Health
– Reduces risks of developing dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease) and reduces risk of depression - Heart Health
– Lowers risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes - Cancer Prevention
-Lowers risk of eight cancers: bladder, breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, lung, and stomach - Healthy Weight
– Reduces risk of weight gain - Bone Strength
– Improves bone health - Balance and Coordination
– Reduces risks of falls
Emerging research suggests physical activity may also help boost immune function.
For Children
- Academic Performance
– Improves attention and memory - Brain Health
– Reduces risk of depression - Muscular Fitness
– Builds strong muscles and endurance - Heart and Lung Health
– Improves blood pressure and aerobic fitness - Cardiometabolic Health
– Helps maintain normal blood sugar levels - Long-term Health
– Reduces risk of several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and obesity - Bone Strength
– Strengthens bones - Healthy Weight
– Helps regulate body weight and reduce body fat
Physical activity saves lives and dollars.

- Inactivity contributes to 1 in 10 premature deaths.
- About 110,000 deaths could be prevented if US adults increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity by even 10 minutes per day.
- Inadequate levels of physical activity are associated with $117 billion in annual healthcare costs.
Physical inactivity affects our national security and military readiness.

- Both obesity and low levels of physical fitness increase the risk for injury among active military personnel.
- Nearly 1 in 4 young adults are too heavy to serve in our military.
Communities benefit from an activity friendly design.

- Well-designed communities give people more options to get to the places they need to go by walking, biking, wheelchair rolling, or using public transit.
- Activity friendly communities can improve safety for people who walk, ride bicycles, and drive.
- Activity friendly communities can also help improve the local economy, increase employment opportunities, support neighborhood revitalization, and reduce health care costs.
- Physical Activity Basics
How physical activity can improve overall health for everyone, no matter age, ability or physical shape. - Adding Physical Activity to Your Life
Ways to increase your physical activity. - Move Your Way
Fun, safe ways to get active! - Adult Physical Inactivity Prevalence Maps by Race/Ethnicity
State maps showing prevalence of physical inactivity and differences by race/ethnicity. - DNPAO Data, Trends and Maps
Interactive database with national and state-level data about the health status and behaviors of Americans as well as environmental or policy supports. - Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition [PDF-15.2MB]
US Department of Health and Human Services’ guidelines for amounts and types of physical activity needed to maintain or improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.