Fitness: Staying active when you have young children

How much physical activity do you need to be healthy?

Experts say to do either of these:¹

• Moderate activity for at least 2½ hours a week. Moderate activity means things like brisk walking or shooting baskets. But any activities—including daily chores—that raise your heart rate can be included.
• Vigorous activity for at least 1¼ hours a week. Vigorous activity means things like jogging, cross-country skiing, or playing a basketball game. You breathe harder and your heart beats much faster with this kind of activity.

You can choose to do one or both types of activity. And it's fine to be active in several blocks of 10 minutes or more throughout your day and week.

Test Your Knowledge

1. To be healthy, you need to do hard exercise every day.

1. True
2. False

Continue to Why is it important to you to be active?
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Author:	Cynthia Tank	Last Updated: August 26, 2008
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Heather Chambliss, PhD - Exercise Science/Weight Management
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