U.S. exercise guidelines coming in 2008

**tattoopierced1** · 10-27-2006, 02:22 PM

U.S.*exercise guidelines coming in 2008 - CNN.com

WASHINGTON (AP) -- There's a food pyramid to help guide people's eating habits, so why not one for exercise?

The Bush administration said Thursday that it would develop guidelines for physical activity.

When the guidelines are ready in late 2008, federal health officials hope they will help people live healthier lifestyles, which in turn, could slow soaring health care costs.

"Obesity is an epidemic, and chronic disease inevitably follows. It has become a major quiet killer," said Mike Leavitt, the health and human services secretary.

More than half of adults in the United States do not get enough of the kind of physical activity that actually benefits them. One-quarter are not active at all in their leisure time. Overall, more than 60 million adults are obese, Leavitt said.

The lack of exercise contributes to the $2 trillion that people spend on health care in this country, Leavitt said. About three-quarters of that amount goes toward the treatment of chronic disease.

Every five years, the government updates dietary guidelines that are designed to tell people what they should eat and how they should prepare food to keep it safe and wholesome. The food pyramid is a separate document, put out by the Agriculture Department and based on those dietary guidelines.

Leavitt said the government has a compelling national interest in promoting healthy choices. But he made it clear that the steps he envisions are less forceful than others might consider necessary. For instance, New York City is considering strict limits on artificial trans fats in restaurant meals.

"You cannot create a culture of wellness through regulations and penalties," Leavitt said.

Leavitt said he would begin meeting with the beverage and snack industry, as well as marketing and media groups, about how to create a "culture of wellness."

"If we simply burden people with guilt or we appeal only to their fears, it won't happen," he said.

The government already makes recommendations about exercise. The new pyramid, for example, recommends 30 minutes of daily physical activity, says 60 minutes is needed to prevent weight gain and 90 minutes may be needed to sustain weight loss.

The surgeon general issued a report in the mid 1990s that contained recommendations on exercise.

Officials said the new guidelines, however, would establish a process where the best science on physical activity would be routinely evaluated.

Dr. Douglas Kamerow, a member of the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Childhood Obesity, said his panel recommended the physical activity guidelines. While most obese people know they should eat less and move more, scientific guidelines could be helpful, he said.

"If we can have the best science brought to bear and you can put out guidelines that would be age-specific, something for school, something for home, you could end up with something that might be useful" Kamerow said.

Skye · 10-29-2006, 02:34 AM

:rolleyes

after public housing and the Daily recomended alowance they are going to do exercise?

**tomall2** · 10-29-2006, 03:29 AM

Finally, I can sleep at night knowing that the HHS is going to do all my exercise thinking for me. Needless to say they are way behind the FCC though. Actually, I'm just thankful that the FCC found these guidelines appropriate communication. Hopefully, the HHS will be able to issue fines to those who fail to exercise or do an exercise appropriately. Quite frankly, I would like to see an FCC/HHS task force in every gym just to catch all those inconsiderate goons who find it necessary to cuss all the time. Kudos to the federal government for once again making my life easier by reducing the amount I have to think about - way to keep dumbing down the country!!! 4 mo fo GWB!!!

**tomall2** · 10-29-2006, 04:30 AM

And I almost forgot to give props to the FDA. If it wernt for them how would we be able to know what substances we should put in our body. Thanks guys. Yup, I love my govunment.

**DAdams91982** · 10-29-2006, 09:00 AM

Damn... there is alot of *****ing that goes on around here now. How can you not see this as a decent thing for the ever expanding waist line? There are a ton of people out there who know NOTHING about exercise. So why not a basic guide? If you do not want to use it... guess what... you're F&**ING AMERICAN. You dont have to. Some might find it beneficial in their life.

Adams

**Rivet** · 10-29-2006, 09:25 AM

They are working on a tax break here for families who enroll their children in physical activities that last over 30mins a session when they are younger and 60mins when older. I even just sent out a petition thats being made at most gyms here to have gym dues tax deductible since the govt mentioned they may try to do this. However this was before they got elected they probably don't care anymore.

**jminis** · 10-29-2006, 09:37 AM

This is a huge issue, what the govt needs to do is start promoting healthy eating by lowering the price of healthy foods. Give a tax break to these companies. Our lower class is filled with obese because the food they can afford is the dollar menu at McDonalds and such. A family size back of chips is like $3 compared to $5 for the ff lite chips. It's backwards.

**tattoopierced1** · 10-29-2006, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jminis

This is a huge issue, what the govt needs to do is start promoting healthy eating by lowering the price of healthy foods. Give a tax break to these companies. Our lower class is filled with obese because the food they can afford is the dollar menu at McDonalds and such. A family size back of chips is like $3 compared to $5 for the ff lite chips. It's backwards.

that would be a great start...

I too think gym fees should be tax deductible.. I may then try to join a more expensive gym if they did this..

Skye · 10-29-2006, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAdams91982

Damn... there is alot of *****ing that goes on around here now. How can you not see this as a decent thing for the ever expanding waist line? There are a ton of people out there who know NOTHING about exercise. So why not a basic guide? If you do not want to use it... guess what... you're F&**ING AMERICAN. You dont have to. Some might find it beneficial in their life.

Adams

Quite easily, what we need is less government not more. Go take a look at public housing, go visit some of it and see what it looks like. Go read some of the things they put out, my all time favorite was the study on children drowning in buckets. The dumb bastards actually suggested putting small holes in the bottom of the bucket to prevent them collecting water. And these are the people that you want tell us how to exercise?

The problem is that we have way to many people sitting on their ass all the time. No government program is going to make them get off their ass if they don't want to and really do you need a program tell people how to go for a walk? Ride a bike? Go sign up at the YMCA?

I am sorry but I hate the mentality that the government should be required to fix our personal problems. Getting off your fat ass is YOUR responsibility and no one else’s.

JM2C

**DAdams91982** · 10-29-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skye

Quite easily, what we need is less government not more. Go take a look at public housing, go visit some of it and see what it looks like. Go read some of the things they put out, my all time favorite was the study on children drowning in buckets. The dumb bastards actually suggested putting small holes in the bottom of the bucket to prevent them collecting water. And these are the people that you want tell us how to exercise?

The problem is that we have way to many people sitting on their ass all the time. No government program is going to make them get off their ass if they don't want to and really do you need a program tell people how to go for a walk? Ride a bike? Go sign up at the YMCA?

I am sorry but I hate the mentality that the government should be required to fix our personal problems. Getting off your fat ass is YOUR responsibility and no one else’s.

JM2C

No, no program is going to make ANYONE do this. That was in my first post.

I've been part of the government for the last 4 years... they tell me how to work out all the time, and I must admit, havent done a bad job at it at all. Also I came from public housing, so I know how that is too... and mine is first hand.

I hate the mentality of the government being required to fix personal problems... but you know what. The catalyst for this type of ****, is an outcry from the public.

Take it how you will.

Adams out.