You probably already know that exercise is integral to a healthy lifestyle, but how much exercise is enough? The answer depends on many factors, including your unique health needs, goals, and personal preferences.

Physical Activity Recommendations

Here are some of the current physical activity recommendations for various health goals:

• To maintain good health and prevent chronic conditions, the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week, or roughly 20 minutes each day. For additional health benefits, do muscle strengthening activities involving all major muscle groups 2 days a week.¹
• To prevent weight gain, it is recommended to aim for 45 to 60 minutes of physical activity each day.²
• To promote weight loss, experts suggest increasing physical activity to 300 minutes per week, or about 45 minutes each day.³ Some have recommended higher levels that are closer to 420 minutes each week, which equates to 60 minutes each day.⁴
• To prevent weight regain after a weight loss, the recommendation is to aim for 60 minutes or more daily.

In addition to eating a healthy diet, moving your body on a regular basis is essential for achieving and maintaining good health, and most people benefit from getting between 20 and 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Remember to always discuss any changes to your normal physical activity routines with your doctor.