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Non-pharmacologic Treatment
Energy Expenditure: 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for
Americans
➤ 80% of U.S. adults and adolescents are insufficiently active.
➤ Physical activity for adults:
• Engage in 150 to 300 minutes or more of moderate-intensity
aerobic activity or 75–150 minutes or more of vigorous-intensity
aerobic activity per week
• Muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days per week
➤ Moderate-intensity activities have a MET value of 3 to 5.9 METs.
Examples include walking briskly (2.5 to 4.0 mph), playing
volleyball, raking the yard.
➤ Vigorous-intensity activities have a MET value of 6 or greater.
Examples include running, weight-lifting (while lifting), or
participating in a strenuous fitness class.
➤ Some activities, such as swimming or bicycle riding, can be
either moderate or vigorous intensity, depending on the effort.
➤ Walking can technically be considered either part of exercise
activity thermogenesis or NEAT. Clinicians and patients may
choose to apply walking towards weekly physical activity goals.
➤ Light-intensity physical activity, such as walking slowly at 2 mph
or less or doing light household chores, may also provide some
health benefits if a person replaces sedentary behavior with light-
intensity activity.
