HHS HealthBeat (November 2, 2012)

Twenty, 40, fit and fat

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Researchers say 20 minutes of activity each day can make overweight, previously inactive kids more fit and less fat – including dangerous fat around their internal organs  – and lower their  diabetes risk.  Forty minutes will burn even more fat.

At Georgia Health Sciences University, Catherine Davis checked data on 222 7- to 11-year-olds.  One third didn’t exercise, one third did 20 minutes, and the rest did 40 minutes.

“For certain things, like weight loss, 40 minutes a day will provide added benefit. But 20 minutes might be enough to get them as aerobically fit as they need to be.”

And it could happen in school. It was tag and things like that. Davis says fun is crucial.

The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: November 13, 2012