Mission of the Physical Activity Promotion

To provide technical assistance, resource support, and collaboration with national, state, and local health departments and organizations to promote physically active lifestyles among citizens of Florida.

Regular physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle- preventing disease and enhancing health and the quality of life. A persuasive body of evidence, including the 1996 Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, indicates that regular, moderate-intensity physical activity confers substantial health benefits.

A primary benefit of regular physical activity is protection against coronary heart disease (CHD) the number one cause of deaths in Florida.

Being physically inactive is as strong a risk factor as being a smoker, having high blood pressure, or having high blood cholesterol. This fact underscores the need for public health to more vigorously promote physical activity within the community.

Over the past decade, the public has been told that high intensity exercise (3 to 5 times per week, 45 minutes per session at targeted heart rate) is the level of activity that should be achieved and maintained. While the health benefits, specifically cardiovascular benefits, of such programs have been documented, moderate levels of activity have been shown to have a substantial health benefit.

A brisk walk of 30 to 60 minutes each day will enable people to reach a moderate level of fitness. In fact, a study by Blair, et. al., 1989, found that the greatest reduction in risk was found when those individuals who were at the lowest levels of physical activity began modest improvements in their levels.

Activities and their Caloric amount

The current recommendation, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine, is:

"Every American adult should accumulate thirty (30) minutes or more of moderate intensity physical activity on all or most days of the week."

How to calculate your Target Heart Rate (THR) and your Maximum Heart Rate (MHR)

For more information about physical activity and physical activity promotion, contact the Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention.