Guest Speaker on the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

The Public Health program hosted a special lecture titled “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans,” by Kenneth Powell, MD, MPH. Dr. Powell played an instrumental role in developing the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and served as the co-Chair for the 2018 Physical Activity Scientific Advisory Committee, which provided the scientific evidence for the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2^nd Edition in 2018. Dr. Powell is a renowned epidemiologist having worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 25 years and the Georgia Department of Human Resources for another 8 years. More than 125 students, staff, faculty, and community partners were present for the lecture. The presentation focused on: 1) health benefits of physical activity, 3) how much physical activity is needed for good health), 4) ‘key’ guidelines, and 5) and how to translate these findings through physical activity promotion activities. Dr. Powell also provided the audience with insight into the process of serving on such an esteemed committee, the thousands of hours it took to produce their report, and the different issues, regarding physical activity that they wrestled with as a committee. The takeaway message that Dr. Powell left the audience with was that “more physically active people think better, feel better, sleep better, and conduct their daily activities with more energy and less fatigue.”

A special thanks to Dr. Greg Heath, Guerry Professor of the Health & Human Performance Department, for inviting Dr. Powell to Chattanooga and opening the lecture to the entire campus and local community. The Public Health program is grateful for the opportunity to expose our community to one of the experts in the field of physical activity and public health!