Obesity rates continue to rise across the United States. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently estimates that more than 35% of American adults are obese, and about 17% of children and adolescents are obese.

Numerous health risks are linked to obesity. They comprise some of the most common preventable causes of death, including coronary heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and strokes. In 2008, medical costs associated with obesity were estimated at $147 billion. Efforts to decrease obesity among adults and children are crucial from a public health standpoint.

Current Physical Activity Guidelines recommend 150 minutes (or about 30 minutes, five times a week) of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. Specifically for weight loss purposes, many experts recommend longer durations of exercise - up to 60 minutes per day.

Are these longer periods of exercise necessary for optimal weight loss? Does the extra time increase fat loss? Or is there a compensation effect whereby the body adjusts to the additional exercise?

In a paper published recently in the American Journal of Physiology, studied this question using samples of overweight, sedentary men. The authors compared a group which performed 30 minutes of daily aerobic exercise for 13 weeks to one which performed 60 minutes per day.

The authors compared the groups based on body fat loss, as well negative accumulated energy balance, which they calculated from the changes in body composition.

Participants who performed 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per day experienced the same amount of body fat loss compared to those who performed 60 minutes per day. Surprisingly, the overweight men who exercised 30 minutes per day had a much greater than predicted negative energy balance. There was no additional benefit obtained by doing 60 minutes of exercise per day.

The authors concluded that while one group of overweight men performed twice the amount of daily aerobic exercise, the decrease in body weight and body fat was no greater than the group that performed half as much.

This study provides good news to overweight individuals who want to start an exercise regimen to lose weight and body fat. Since many of these people do not regularly exercise, starting with 30 minutes per day might be more appealing. They might be more likely to stick to the shorter programs.

When it comes to obesity and weight loss, any exercise seems better than none at all. While we need much more research to find ideal nutritional changes and specific exercise recommendations, Americans of all ages can at least start with moderate amounts of exercise each day.

What do you think about this study and its findings? Will it make you more likely to try to perform physical activity each day?

By: Katrina Butner (See full bio)

I have defined myself as an athlete since the age of 4 when my parents signed me up to play soccer. My love of the sport continued though school and culminated with a scholarship to play for a division 1 team.

When I first think of Title IX, athletics comes to mind. But Title IX afforded women opportunities far beyond the playing field. The recent 40th Anniversary of Title IX on June 23rd provided a respite to pause and reflect on the opportunities I have had as a female, both in athletics and in academics, and consider the progress we have made as a country. Since 1972, high school athletics have increased 10-fold, with a six-fold increase at the collegiate level, and the proportion of female professors in science and mathematics has more than doubled!

I had the opportunity to attend a Title IX Anniversary event hosted by the Women's Hall of Fame with members of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition this week. This was a great experience to learn from those who directly influenced Title IX, including former Senator Birch Bayh, who is known as the "grandfather of Title IX."

I never thought twice about attending the college of my choice, or then pursuing a graduate degree. During the anniversary event, several esteemed members of a panel spoke on their experiences prior to Title IX. Before 1972, there were limited options for women in higher education, often with small quotas of 10% or even 0% of women allowed to be enrolled at a University.

As a competitive runner, I loved hearing Katherine Switzer recount her experience as the first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1967. Did you know that soon after starting the race, the race director attempt to remove her when he realized a woman was running? Luckily, she was able to continue running - with new motivation. Dr. Condoleezza Rice delivered the keynote address and spoke eloquently on her experiences as an athlete and her wish to help empower women to continue to reach for their goals.

Want to learn more about Title IX and the perspectives of other female athletes? The President's Council has more information on their website, including blog posts by Council Members Billie Jean King and Michelle Kwan, and a video clip from Billie Jean King on the important of equal opportunities in sports.

Overall, there have been great advances for women in the past 40 years, both on and off the field, but we still have a long way to go to ensure equity for girls and women in sports.

Have you or your family members benefited from Title IX? Share your story here!

If you are like many of us, you have found that applying the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in your communties, families, and everyday lives can be challenging. These two important policy documents provide guidance on the importance of being physically active and selecting nutritious foods for living a long and healthy life. However, we know individuals are frequently crunched for time, on a limited budget, or just do not know how to make healthy foods taste yummy. Whatever challenges members of your community face when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, the Eat Healthy ● Be Active Community Workshops can help you teach adults how to be active and make healthy food choices everyday in the places where they live, work, and play.

Based on the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelies for Americans and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, the Eat Healthy ● Be Active Community Workshops are designed for community educators, health promoters, dietitians/nutritionists, cooperative extension agents, and others to teach adults how to put the Guidelines into practice in their everyday lives. This information is creatively packaged in six easy-to-use, interactive workshops. Each workshop contains specific learning objectives, icebreaker activities, talking points, handouts, evaluation forms to gather feedback from participants, and hands-on activities for helping to make lasting lifestyle changes. In addition, the workshop series includes video vignettes, live demonstrations, and a list of helpful resources. The complete Eat Healthy ● Be Active Community Workshop series is made up of the following: 

1. Enjoy Healthy Food That Tastes Great

2. Quick, Healthy Meals and Snacks

3. Eating Healthy on a Budget

4. Top Tips for Losing Weight and Keeping It Off

5. Making Healthy Eating Part of Your Total Lifestyle

6. Physical Activity is the Key to Living Well

We know every community and every family is different. That’s why the Eat Healthy ● Be Active Community Workshops and corresponding materials were created to be suitable for all groups of adults, including those who may not have the ability to find, understand, and use basic health information. Developed using health literacy principles, the workshops were pilot tested at ten sites across the U.S., including cooperative extension programs, worksite wellness programs, Head Start, and community groups. After attending the workshops, many participants reported increased physical activity levels and positive behavior changes in their nutrition choices. So no matter where your community is located, the Eat Healthy ● Be Active Community Workshops can help you teach adults how to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyles through regular physical activity and healthy eating.

Download all the workshops, along with an introduction and appendix section, for free at www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines.

How could you use the Eat Healthy ● Be Active Community Workshops in your community?