HHS releases midcourse report on ‘Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.’ 

Health and Human Services (HHS) of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) released its Physical Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: Implementation Strategies for Older Adults (Midcourse Report) highlighting strategies to increase physical activity in key settings among adults ages 65 years and older from the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

The Guidelines emphasize why individuals need to engage in physical activity and what dose of physical activity is needed for health benefits. The Midcourse Report focuses on how and where to incorporate physical activity and reinforces the amounts and types of physical activity older Americans need. The report includes strategies that professionals, as well as others working with older adults, can implement wherever older adults spend their time — including in community, health care, and home settings.

These strategies include policy, systems, and environmental approaches; behavior change; and physical activity programs. View the Executive Summary and additional resources such as Top 10 Things to Know about the Midcourse Report and this FAQ. 

Thank you to the ACSM members who played critical roles as writers, literature reviewers and peer-reviewers for the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report:

• Katrina L. Piercy, Ph.D., R.D., ACSM-CEP, FACSM
• David R. Brown, Ph.D., FACSM
• Geoffrey P. Whitfield, Ph.D., M.Ed.
• Graycie Soto, MPH
• Dana L. Wolff-Hughes, Ph.D.
• Barbara J. Nicklas, Ph.D., FACSM
• David E. Conroy, Ph.D., FACSM
• Loretta Di Pietro, Ph.D., MPH, FACSM
• NiCole R. Keith, Ph.D., FACSM
• David X. Marquez, Ph.D., FACSM
• David M. Buchner, M.D., MPH, FACSM 

American Fitness Index results to be announced next week

ACSM's American Fitness Index will reveal its fitness rankings of America's largest 100 cities on a composite of health behaviors, health outcomes, community infrastructure, and local policies that support a physically active lifestyle.

With the help of the Fitness Index, local officials, community groups, health organizations, and individual citizens can assess factors contributing to their city’s fitness, health, and quality of life.

Sign up for AFI's newsletter to receive the rankings once they release.