New health guidelines stress physical activity

Parks & Recreation, Feb, 2005

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced Jan. 12 the release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, the federal government's science-based advice to promote health and reduce risk of chronic diseases through nutrition and physical activity. The report identifies 41 recommendations. Physical activity and weight management were among the top priorities of the report. One of the physical activity recommendations included engaging in "regular physical activity and reduce sedentary activities to promote health, psychological well-being and a healthy body weight." Part of the weight management area stressed the importance of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity for most days of the week to reduce prevalence of chronic diseases; at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity on most days of the week to either sustain weight or gradually decrease it; and 60-90 minutes of daily moderate-intensity physical activity to lose weight.

Light-Intensity to Moderate Activities: **

Walking

Golf

Swimming

Gardening or pruning

Bicycling

Tennis

Weight-training

Moderate to Vigorous-Intensity Activities: ***

Acrobatics

Aerobics

Archery

Badminton

Ballet

Baseball

Basketball *

Baton Twirling

Bicycling *

Boogie Boarding

Bowling

Canoeing

Catch

Cheerleading

Clogging

Cricket

Croquet

Curling

Dancing

Discus Throw

Diving

Drill Team

Fencing

Field Hockey

Figure Skating *

Fishing

Flag Football

Football *

Frisbee[R]

Four Square

Golf *

Gymnastics

Hackey[R] Sack

(footbag)

Handball

Hiking

Hopscotch

Horseback Riding

Hula Hooping

Hurdling

Ice Hockey

Inline Skating

Jai Alai

Javelin

Jogging

Judo *

Jump Rope

Karate

Kickball

Kickboxing

Lacrosse

Line Dancing

Marching Band

Martial Arts

Mountain Biking

Paddleball

Ping Pong

Racquetball

Rock Climbing

Roller Hockey *

Roller Skating

Rowing

Rugby

Scooters

Scuba Diving *

Shot Put

Skateboarding

Ski Jumping

Sledding

Snowboarding *

Snow Skiing *

Snorkeling

Soccer

Softball *

Square Dancing

Squash

Step Team

Stickball

Surfing

Swimming *

Tae Bo

Tae kwon do

T'ai Chi

Tag

Tennis

Tetherball

Tobogganing

Track and Field *

Tumbling

Ultimate Frisbee[R]

Volleyball *

Walking

Water Polo

Water Skiing *

Weight training *

Wrestling *

Yoga

* Activities that can be applied to people with disabilities.

** According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

*** NRPA-compiled report for Step Up to Health. For more information, please visit www. nrpa.org.

What's hot and what's not in gardening for 2005 *

HOT

Reality Gardens

Signature Gardens

Simple is Still Hot

Collaboration

Mega blooms

Specialty Annuals

Luxury Brands

Vertical Gardening

Romantic

New Classics

Curated Consumption

Environmentally Sensitive

Container gardening still hot. And not cooling off.

Empowered Plants

Tropical gardens

NOT

Ideal Gardens

Cookie Cutters

Clutter is Not

Do it all yourself

Seedlings

Bedding Plants

Bargain Brands

One-dimensional Gardening

Pedestrian

Trendy

Avalanche of Choices

Chemically Dependent

Needy plants

Cottage gardens

* Trends based on the Garden Media Group

For the full report, please visit www.healthierus. gov/dietary guidelines.