CDC: Americans Walking More, But Not Enough

Source: Fox News

U.S. adults are walking more than they did half a decade ago, but less than half are exercising enough to improve their health, according to a report released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sixty-two percent of adults surveyed in 2010 said they walked 10 minutes or more at least once during the preceding week, compared to 56 percent in 2005. However, the National Health Interview Survey determined only 48 percent of adults are getting enough physical activity to see health benefits.

For adults, the CDC recommends at least two-and-a-half hours per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, for 10 minutes or more at a time.

Walking is the most common physical activity among U.S. adults, according to the survey. [snip]

Public health officials described the increase in walking, both in the South and nationally, as an important "first step" in lowering Americans' risk for a host of common ailments including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, depression and cognitive decline.

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