The President's Challenge

Sign up for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+) challenge today, and in six short weeks you’ll be more active, making better food choices, and feeling great! Plus, you can earn an award. How gratifying is that?

Reward Yourself

When you earn your PALA, browse our selection of Presidential Active Lifestyle Awards and gear. You can even order a personalized digital badge that’s perfect for touting this accomplishment on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. Get one for yourself or everyone in a group.

Daily Physical Activity Is the Key

Earning a PALA is doable by anyone at any fitness level with any eating habits—it just takes commitment.

• Adults (that’s anyone over 18 years old): Meet your daily activity goal of 30 minutes of physical activity a day, at least five days a week, for six out of eight weeks. As an alternative, you can count your daily activity steps using a pedometer (goal: 8,500). Each week, you’ll also focus on a healthy eating goal. There are eight to choose from, and each week you will add a new goal while continuing with your previous goals. By the end of the six weeks, you’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle.
• Kids and teens (that’s anyone between 6 and 17 years): Meet your daily activity goal of 60 minutes of physical activity a day, at least five days a week, for six out of eight weeks. As an alternative, you can count your daily activity steps using a pedometer (girls’ goal: 11,000; boys’ goal: 13,000). Each week, you’ll also focus on a healthy eating goal. There are eight to choose from, and each week you will add a new goal while continuing with your previous goals. By the end of the six weeks, you’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle.

*A change in requirements for the number of steps required for kids and teens to earn PALA+ went into effect August 1, 2012. This change made the requirement 12,000 steps for boys and girls. The 12,000 steps recommendation is based on research equating step counts to minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in youth. Children and adolescents participating in the Canadian Health Measures Survey were asked to wear a device that recorded both physical activity intensity and steps. The data were used to predict the number of steps per day that equate to 60 minutes of MVPA daily (as recommended for U.S. and Canadian youths). Prediction equations were developed for the entire sample as well as separate groups defined by age and gender. The researchers concluded that a single minimal daily step target of 12,000 steps per day for both boys and girls was the most practical choice.