Physical Activity
Community Health Promotion supports community efforts and partnerships that promote opportunities to make it easy to incorporate physical activity into everyday activities. Take a look at the strategies section to learn more about these efforts in Kansas.
Everyone can experience the health benefits of physical activity – age, abilities, ethnicity, shape, or size do not matter.
Benefits of Physical Activity
Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of several chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. In 2020, 22% of Kansas adults did not participate in any physical activities or exercises other than their job in the past 30 days. This is a decrease from 2019 in which 27.1% of adults did not participate in these activities.
Health benefits from physical activity start immediately after you do it. Even short amounts of physical activity are good for you and those short amounts add up for cumulative benefit. There are many ways to be physically active, and you may be surprised at what counts. Use the Move Your Way interactive tool to build a weekly activity plan with a wide variety of ways to get your body moving from walking or running, to games and gardening and even household chores.
Minimum Recommendations & How to Get Started
Minimum recommendations for children and adolescents is 60 minutes of physical activity a day with vigorous-intensity, muscle strengthening and bone strengthening activity at least 3 days a week. Adults should strive for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week and muscle strengthening activity at least 2 days a week. If you are not sure about becoming active or boosting your level of physical activity the good news is that moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, is generally safe for most people.
If you have not been physically active in a while, you may be wondering how to get started again. Find more tips to get started with physical activity.
Strategies being implemented at the community level:
- Increasing the number of communities that adopt and implement healthy community design principles, like master bicycle and pedestrian transportation plans that help towns and counties prioritize infrastructure that supports residents in getting places by biking or walking or rolling.
- Implementing Safe Routes to School or initial projects like a walking school bus or holding a bike to school day.
- Supporting creative placemaking activities that help foster a sense of place and belonging in communities, increase physical and mental wellbeing of residents, and strengthen or revitalize the local economy.
Resources
Community Design Reference Guide (PDF)
This reference guide explains the connection between the built environment and physical activity. It provides practical information on how to change community design to improve resident health, protect the environment, and ensure prosperity.
Creative Placemaking 101 (PDF)
This reference guide will provide you with ideas and resources for engaging in creative placemaking in your community.
Kansas Governor's Council on Fitness
The mission of the Governor's Council on Fitness is to encourage increased physical activity, healthy diets and tobacco use prevention by sharing information with Kansans and partnering with businesses, schools and individuals to promote healthy lifestyles.
Get Active Kansas
The goal of Get Active Kansas! is to help Kansans realize the tremendous benefits of physical activity and to take action to achieve a greater level of physical activity. Specifically, Kansans will become more physically active, achieving 30 minutes of physical activity (60 minutes for kids!) most days of the week. Get Active Kansas! is sponsored by the Governor's Council on Fitness.
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2nd Edition (PDF)
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2nd Edition from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides guidance and information on the types and amounts of physical activity that provide substantial health benefits. This resource includes information for multiple life states from preschool age children, adolescents, adults and older adults as well as specific groups such as adults with disabilities and pregnant women.
For Providers
Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults with Disabilities
Doctors and other health professionals can play a role in promoting physical activity among their adult patients with disabilities. Adults with disabilities were 82% more likely to be physically active if their doctor recommended it; however, only 44% of adults with disabilities who visited a doctor in the past year received a physical activity recommendation from their doctor.