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| Active Living |
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Active LivingGoal: Increase physical activity by more than 50 percent.
Why does physical activity matter? It benefits the health of people in all age groups regardless of their health status. Among youth, physical activity helps to reduce body fat, improve cardiovascular, metabolic and bone health, as well as improve mental health. Among adults, physical activity lowers risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, colon cancer, breast cancer and depression.[1] Unfortunately, just over half (52.7 percent )[2] of Minnesota adults meet recommended activity levels of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five or more days per week.[3] Blue Cross is committed to changing norms, policies, systems and environments statewide to increase active living opportunities for all. We do this through funding community projects; providing learning opportunities for community leaders, professionals and advocates; and collaborating with organizations across the state. Read the stories at right to learn more. END NOTES [1] Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. (2008). Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report (No. 1753-4887). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Task Force on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity. (2000).Overweight, obesity, and health risk Arch Intern Med, 160(7), 898-904. Poirier, P., Giles, T.D., Bray, G.A., Hong, Y., Stern, J.S., Pi-Sunyer, F.X., et al. (2006.) Obesity and cardiovascular disease: pathophysiology, evaluation, and effect of weight loss. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 26(5), 969-976. [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Minnesota, 2009. (Retrieved October 24, 2011 from http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/BRFSS) [3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007). Physical Activity for Everyone (Retrieved November 20, 2007 from www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physcial/recommendations/index.htm |
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© 2013 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. All rights reserved. An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. |
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