Americans Unaware That Exercising Is Good for Health

 Majority of Americans are unaware of the Department of Health national exercise recommendations. Despite 14 years of educational campaigns, only one-third of Americans know about recommendations for a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity a day, while fewer than half follow the guideline.


The study is based on 2005 survey of 2,381 people. Researchers say that saturating affect of media is one reason why efforts to deliver the message about health benefits of exercising was limited success. Bombarded by the information about physical activity coming out of a variety of sources, Americans find it difficult to make their choice.
Since 1995 the U.S. government has used radio, TV, print media and the Internet to deliver the message about the need of doing exercises at least 30 minutes a day. According to Pr. Gary Bennett from Duke University, North Carolina, if more people met the recommendations, it could lower rates of chronic diseases.