Using activity monitors to measure physical activity in free-living conditions

1(p126) A physically active lifestyle is associated with a decreased risk for a variety of chronic diseases and health conditions such as cardiovascular disease,2-5 hypertension,6-8 diabetes mellitus,9-12 certain cancers,13-15 depression,16-18 obesity,19-20 cerebrovascular disease, and premature death.21 The Surgeon General recommends 30 minutes for adults or 60 minutes for children of moderate-intensity activity on most, if not all, days of the week to be physically active and achieve a health benefit.21 The Surgeon General's recommendation is comparable to expending approximately 150 kcal of energy per day21 for an otherwise healthy individual whose principal mode of activity is walking.