HHS Names Physical Activity Guidelines Panel

Today, HHS named 17 health and exercise experts to an advisory committee to develop the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, the second edition of recommendations first released in 2008. The first of 5 public meetings will be July 14-15, 2016, and all meetings will be webcast.

The panel will review evidence on how physical activity affects health for the general population as well as specific groups, such as children, older adults, and persons with disabilities, according to a statement from HHS.

“We know that meeting the recommendations in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans can produce physical and mental health benefits,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc.

Recommended levels include 150 minutes of moderate activity a week for adults (or 75 minutes of vigorous activity), and 60 minutes of exercise a day for children. This much exercise should reduce the risk of cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. In September 2015, the Surgeon General issued a call to action, “Step it up!” to promote walking and walkable communities.

HHS’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion will lead development of the updated guideline with the CDC, the National Institutes of Health, and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.

Members of the advisory committee are:

Abby C. King, PhD, Co-chair

Professor, Health Research & Policy and Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine

Ken Powell, MD, MPH, Co-chair

Retired, CDC and Georgia Department of Human Resources

David Buchner, MD, MPH, FACSM

Shahid and Ann Carlson Khan Professor in Applied Health Sciences, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois

Wayne Campbell, PhD

Professor, Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University

Adjunct Faculty, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Purdue University

Loretta DiPietro, PhD, MPH, FACSM

Professor and Chair, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, the Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University

Kirk I. Erickson, PhD

Associate Professor, Departments of Psychology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Charles H. Hillman, PhD

Professor, Departments of Psychology and the Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University

John M. Jakicic, PhD

Professor, Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Pittsburgh

Director, Physical Activity and Weight Management Research Center, University of Pittsburgh

Kathleen F. Janz, EdD, FACSM

Professor, Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa

Peter T. Katzmarzyk, PhD

Professor and Associate Executive Director for Population and Public Health Sciences, Pennington Biomedical Research Center

William E. Kraus, MD, FACSM

Professor, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Duke University

Richard F. Macko, MD

Professor, Neurology, Medicine, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Research Director, Veterans Affairs Maryland, Geriatrics Research, Educational, and Clinical Center

David Marquez, PhD, FACSM

Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago

Director, Exercise Psychology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Chicago

Anne McTiernan, MD, PhD, FACSM

Research Professor, University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Public Health

Full Member, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Russell R. Pate, PhD, FACSM

Professor, Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina

Chair, National Physical Activity Plan Alliance

Linda Pescatello, PhD, FACSM

Distinguished Professor of Kinesiology, Departments of Allied Health Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, and Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut; and Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Melicia C. Whitt-Glover, PhD, FACSM

President & CEO, Gramercy Research Group