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Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition
Published: November 12, 2018

- The American Heart Association is adopting the 2018 physical activity guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which were announced on Monday, November 12, 2018, at the American Heart Association’s flagship meeting Scientific Sessions.
- The last set of physical activity guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was released in 2008. The guidelines are reviewed and updated, as necessary, every 10 years.
- The 2018 physical activity guidelines greatly expand the list of health benefits credited to physical activity; provide information about how to achieve those benefits; and show the types, volumes and intensities associated with those benefits.
- The guidelines are recommendations based on new evidence supporting the connections between physical activity, disease prevention and quality of life.
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, Second Edition
Tiffany Powell-Wiley, MD, MPH interviews William E. Kraus, MD about the new Physical Activity Guidelines.
Supporting Materials
- Top Things to Know: Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition
- Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Cardiovascular Benefits and Recommendations
- HHS Press Release: HHS Releases Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition
- AHA News Release: American Heart Association calls for adoption of the newly released U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition
- Blog post: Updated Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans provides new research and tools for health professionals to support increased physical activity by Alison Vaux-Bjerke, MPH, and Katrina L. Piercy, PhD, RD, ACSM-CEP, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- CBS Morning Show: New federal guidelines count short bursts of activity, housework as exercise
- Physical Activity Prescription
Recommended Reading
- Routine Assessment and Promotion of Physical Activity in Healthcare Settings
- Prioritizing Functional Capacity as a Principal End Point for Therapies Oriented to Older Adults With Cardiovascular Disease
- Cardiovascular Health Promotion in Children: Challenges and Opportunities for 2020 and Beyond
- The National Physical Activity Plan: A Call to Action From the American Heart Association
- Guide to the Assessment of Physical Activity: Clinical and Research Applications
- 2013 Guideline on Lifestyle Management to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk