Physical activity is one of the best things Virginians can do for their health and well-being. There are benefits for people of all ages, abilities, ethnicites, and health status. In 2018, 22 percent of adults in Virginia did no physical activity in a month. In 2017, 49 percent of Virginians did not exercise the recommended amount per week. There are many easy ways to incorporate physical activity in your daily life.
Guidance
- Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Targets Americans age 3 and older. Most recently released by Department of Health and Human Services in 2018, 2nd Edition.
Benefits
- Improves brain health, cognition, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and sleep
- Helps you keep a healthy weight
- Reduces health risks: heart disease, type II diabetes, some cancers
- Makes bones and muscles strong: helps manage Arthritis
- Prevents falls
- Increases chances of living longer
- Helps manage chronic diseases
Physical Activity Recommendations Across the All Age Groups
Strategies to Achieving Physical Activity
We support increasing physical activity through systems that have a focus on equity and inclusion. These include:
- providing better walk and bike routes
- giving access to places for physical activity. This includes parks and trails, universities and schools, recreational facilities and gyms, senior centers and workplaces
- offering evidence based chronic disease programs that include physical activity. (ex: Walk with Ease program)
- providing health and wellness programs in schools
- creating community wide awareness campaign
Resources
- Virginia Recreation and Park Society
- Move More Virginia Exercise Videos
- Virginia Department of Recreation and Conservation: state parks for hiking and bicycling
- Virginia Department of Education Physical Education: provides students with the knowledge and skills to become physically educated, physically fit and responsible in their physical activity choices and behaviors for a lifetime
- Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program: CDC and SHAPE America developed a guide for schools and school systems to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive school physical activity programs
- Healthy Kids, Healthy Future: Get Kids Moving: activities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
References