Daily HealthBeat Tip

Get a move on

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ray Sass with HHS HealthBeat.

Americans spend a lot of time at work, but are they spending enough calories? Maybe not.

Researchers analyzing survey data on occupational and leisure time physical activity found that people get less exercise at work today than they used to. And people who exercise outside of work often don't do it for long enough.

Dr. Lyn Steffen of the University of Minnesota:

"Whether you're at home, raking, shoveling gardening or you're out running or walking the dog—any physical activity is good for maintaining weight, preventing weight as long as you are being physically active for 60 minutes a day." (13 seconds)

Steffen says exercise is cumulative, so even if you have to exercise in intervals, the benefits add up.

The study in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ray Sass.

Last revised: December 8, 2006

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