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National Health Observances

National Health Observance Toolkit - May

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

Sponsor: President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition

National Physical Fitness and Sports MonthNational Physical Fitness and Sports Month is a great time to promote the benefits of physical activity.

Getting active increases your chances of living longer and can help you:

  • Control your blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight.
  • Raise your "good" cholesterol.
  • Prevent heart disease, colorectal cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

Here are some tips to help you get active:

  • Aim for at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate activity a week. This includes things like walking fast, dancing, or biking.
  • Do muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days a week. Be sure to strengthen all major muscle groups including the legs, hips, back, chest, stomach, shoulders, and arms.

Sample Announcement  |  Sample Tweets  |  E-cards  |  Web Badges  |  Get Involved  |  Related Tools on healthfinder.gov  |  Resources

Get the Word Out

Announcment Sample Media and/or Newsletter or Listserv Announcement
Twitter

Fitness Tip: Build physical activity into your life. Start at a comfortable level.
External Link

Can you name 7 benefits of being active? We can: http://1.usa.gov/HPDofC.
External Link

Rise to the challenge. Take time to get the physical activity you need. Sign up for the President’s Challenge: http://bit.ly/iB88l2.
External Link

Q. Is physical activity for everyone? A. Yes. Here is a helpful resources that explain why: http://1.usa.gov/hkalfP.
External Link

Did you know? No matter how inactive you’ve been or how out of shape you are, people of all ages benefit from physical activity.
External Link

E-cards

healthfinder.gov:  Be Active Your Way

healthfinder.gov:  Be Active Your Way-Rise to the Challenge

View more E-cards

Badges Web Badge

Get Involved

Take action to promote physical fitness.

  1. Be a community leader. Encourage families and communities to get active and empower them to make better choices.
  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. Display the Physical Activity Guidelines poster to encourage people to get active.
  4. Encourage others to increase their physical activity and sports participation by taking the President’s Challenge External Link. Sign up individually or as a workplace or other group.
  5. Ask local retail stores and fitness facilities to offer discounted memberships or free guest passes and to share free information about physical fitness and health.

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

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