U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Skip left side navigation and go to content

Man and woman riding bicycles on path in woods.

Be Physically Active

Being physically active and eating fewer calories will help you lose weight and keep the weight off over time.

While people vary quite a bit in the amount of physical activity they need for weight control, many can maintain their weight by doing 150 to 300 minutes (2 ½ to 5 hours) a week of moderate-intensity activity such as brisk walking.

People who want to lose a large amount of weight (more than 5 percent of their body weight)—and people who want to keep off the weight that they’ve lost—may need to be physically active for more than 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week.

For more information on these recommendations, check out the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Or check out our fact sheet on physical activity on NHLBI’s Diseases and Conditions Index.

Healthy Weight Tip

Speak to your doctor before starting a physical activity program if you have a health problem such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or asthma.

Need help becoming more physically active?

Cover of Your Guide to Physical Activity and Your HeartYour Guide to Physical Activity and Your Heart uses science-based information to help adults develop a safe and effective program of physical activity that can be sustained. Or check out our fact sheet on physical activity on NHLBI’s Diseases and Conditions Index.

Skip footer links and go to content