May

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

Federal Lead: President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition

Regular physical activity is good for everyone’s health, and people of all ages and body types can be physically active. National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is a great time to spread the word about the benefits of getting active.

Here are just a few benefits of physical activity:

• Children and adolescents – Physical activity can improve muscular fitness, bone health, and heart health.
• Adults – Physical activity can lower the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.
• Older adults – Physical activity can lower the risk of falls and improve cognitive functioning (like learning and judgment skills).

Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to create opportunities for everyone to get more physical activity.

How can National Physical Fitness and Sports Month make a difference?

We can use this month to raise awareness about the benefits of physical activity — and spread the word about fun ways to get moving!

Here are just a few ideas:

• Encourage families to make small changes, like taking a walk after dinner or going for a bike ride.
• Motivate teachers and administrators to make physical activity a part of every student’s day.
• Identify youth leaders in the community who can talk to their peers about the importance of being active.

How can I help spread the word?

• Add information about physical activity to your newsletter.
• Tweet about National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.
• Host a community event where families can be active and learn about more family-friendly fitness activities.
• Add this Web badge to your website, blog, or social networking profile.

• Sample Announcement
• Sample Tweets
• E-cards
• Web Badge
• Get Involved
• Share These Resources
• More Information

Get the Word Out

Get Involved

Take action to promote physical fitness in your community.

1. Be a community leader. Encourage community groups and families to support physical activity programs for kids.
2. Host an information night featuring community members who have increased their physical activity. Ask people to share their stories and tips for success.
3. Motivate others to increase their physical activity and healthy eating habits by joining the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+) program.
4. Ask fitness facilities to offer discounted memberships or free guest passes. Work together to share free information about physical fitness and health.

Adapted from the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition and healthfinder.gov.
For more information and materials, contact the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition at fitness@hhs.gov.

Share These Resources

Find More Information

• President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition
  National Physical Fitness and Sports Month Federal Lead
• Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
  Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
• Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Among Youth
  Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
• BodyWorks: A Toolkit for Healthy Teens and Strong Families [PDF – 5.9 MB]
  Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Fitness and Nutrition for Women
  Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Tai Chi and Qi Gong
  National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• We Can! Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition
  National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging
  National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging
• Go4Life
  National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging