When you include the American Institute for Cancer Research in your estate plans, you make a major difference in the fight against cancer.

Corporate Champions who partner with the American Institute for Cancer Research stand at the forefront of the fight against cancer

40 Years of Progress: Transforming Cancer. Saving Lives.

The AICR Lifestyle & Cancer Symposium addresses the most current and consequential issues regarding diet, obesity, physical activity and cancer.

The Annual AICR Research Conference is the most authoritative source for information on diet, obesity, physical activity and cancer.

Cancer Update Program – unifying research on nutrition, physical activity and cancer.

Read real-life accounts of how AICR is changing lives through cancer prevention and survivorship.

We bring a detailed policy framework to our advocacy efforts, and provide lawmakers with the scientific evidence they need to achieve our objectives.

AICR champions research that increases understanding of the relationship between nutrition, lifestyle, and cancer.

Are you ready to make a difference? Join our team and help us advance research, improve cancer education and provide lifesaving resources.

AICR’s resources can help you navigate questions about nutrition and lifestyle, and empower you to advocate for your health.

November 21, 2018 | 3 minute read

Why Aren’t We More Active? New Guidelines Provide Evidence, Strategies for Effective Policies

America’s sedentary lifestyle contributes to our too high rates of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and many types of cancer. Now, the 2nd edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans released last week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides new research on the benefits of physical activity, including lower risk of several types of cancer, weight loss, improved quality of life, and lower risk of death from any cause. AICR’s recent blog post from Dr. Anne McTiernan describes the Guidelines’ recommendations to move more and sit less, including benefits for cancer prevention and cancer survivors.

For the first time the Guidelines include recommendations for policy-makers and communities to take actions to help increase physical activity among Americans. The evidence on the benefits of physical activity for improved health are clear, but few people even come close to meeting activity recommendations. The alarming fact is that only about one in five adults and one in four high school students regularly get enough physical activity needed for good health.

physical activity guidelines 2nd edition banner

AICR is committed to helping increase physical activity on a population level and is working with partners to raise awareness among policy-makers about the many health, social, and potential health care cost savings benefits of physical activity. AICR and partners also advocate for policies that make it easier for people to incorporate more physical activity into their daily routine.

On November 13, AICR participated in a Congressional briefing to educate Members of Congress, their staff, and other partners on the new Guidelines and the importance of enacting public policies that make it easier for people to meet the evidence-based recommendations. The briefing featured:

  • a co-chair of the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee – an accomplished physical activity researcher – who described their committee’s main findings and recommendations;
  • the lead federal government official on the development of the guidelines, who provided an overview of key findings;
  • a former professional athlete and national youth sports program leader, who described the benefits of sports for children’s health and development; and
  • an 11-year inclusive physical activity advocate and her mother, who shared their personal story about how physical activity has drastically improved their physical function and quality of life.

In addition to helping individuals find creative ways to boost activity, AICR knows the importance of policies and environments in influencing people’s ability to easily engage in physical activity. Unfortunately, our shared public spaces – communities, schools, and workplaces – are not designed in a way that make it easy for us to fit regular physical activity into our daily lives. These are some evidence-based community strategies recommended by the Guidelines:

  • Improving the quality of K-12 physical education and increasing opportunities for youth to be active before, during, and after the school day;
  • Increasing access to fitness facilities in communities and work sites, public parks, trails and green spaces that provide places for people to be active, combined with education and outreach to increase awareness;
  • Planning and funding public education campaigns that combine physical activity messages delivered through multiple channels with community activities focused on physical activity;
  • Changing the local living environment to make it easier and more natural for people to be active by locating homes near other destinations and making walking, biking and wheelchair routes safer and more connected.

We know a lot about what works to increase physical activity on a community or population level. It’s time we put what we know into practice for the health of our people and our country.

One comment on “Why Aren’t We More Active? New Guidelines Provide Evidence, Strategies for Effective Policies

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More From the Blog

Close