United States Surgeon General

The first Surgeon General's report to address physical activity and health was released July 11, 1996. "This report is a passport to good health," said Vice President Al Gore. The main message of the report is that Americans can substantially improve their health and quality of life by including moderate amounts of physical activity in their daily lives. According to the Surgeon General at that time, Audrey F. Manley, M.D., "This report is nothing less than a national call to action. Physical inactivity is a serious nationwide public health problem, but active and healthful lifestyles are well within the grasp of everyone."

American Medical Association (AMA)

The nation's health goals for the year 2000 were set forth with the 1990 release of the AMA's Healthy People 2000, which reviewed the principle health challenges for Americans and identified in measurable terms the opportunities for health gains during the 1990s. The program presents three broad goals for the health of the nation:

• Increase the span of healthy life for Americans
• Achieve access to preventive services for all Americans
• Reduce health disparities among Americans

The AMA's Healthy People 2000 identified 300 measurable objectives to be accomplished by the year 2000 in 22 areas of priority for health promotion, health protection, and clinical preventive services. The Department of Defense chose five out of these 300 measurable objectives to focus on, number one being exercise. The objective continues today; It is to increase the percentage of people to at least thirty persent, who engage in regular, preferably daily, light to moderate physical activity at least 30 minutes per day. This objective targets the entire American population over the age of six.