Health-enhancing physical activity and the prevention of chronic diseases - An epidemiological review

Objectives: To review the epidemiological evidence on the health-enhancing physical activity recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College for Sports Medicine (ACSM). Methods: Review of papers written in English and German, issued after the release of the CDC/ACSM recommendation (i.e. after 1995), restricted to adults and to their physical health. Due to the large body of published data, no systematic review was performed. instead, a representative cross-section of the published studies is presented. Results: The international epidemiological evidence supports the CDC/ACSM recommendation as a reasonable public health message. Conclusions: According to this recommendation, the daily accumulation of 30 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity-independent of the context of physical activity (e.g. transport, leisure) - provides substantial benefits across a broad range of health outcomes for sedentary men and women. Nevertheless some controversial issues need further address.