These reports have had a great impact on the behavior of American citizens as evidenced by the ban on smoking in many buildings and public places, legal restrictions on tobacco advertising, revision of the food pyramid, and FDA label requirements, to name a few. Similar changes are expected as more and more Americans actively seek a physically active lifestyle. While the report acknowledges the importance of other types of activities such as strength training, it does not emphasize these. The main message is that Americans can substantially improve their health and quality of life by including moderate amounts of physical activity in their daily lives. The report emphasizes that most Americans can achieve health benefits from physical activity even if they dislike vigorous exercise or previously were discouraged because of the difficulty in adhering to a program of vigorous exercise.
Individuals can realize major health gains by including regular, moderate activity in their lives.
Individuals who already include moderate activity in their daily lives can see additional health and fitness improvement if they increase the duration of their moderate activity to include a more vigorous workout 3-5 days per week. Generally, the report concludes that higher levels of physical activity lead to lower mortality rates, a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, a decreased risk of colon cancer, and lower levels of obesity.