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On This Day in Fitness History

In February 2009, the American College of Sports Medicine, responding to mounting research evidence, updated its 2001 position stand on how much physical activity is needed to lose weight and not regain it.

The 2009 recommendations (which remain current) call for 150–250 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity to prevent weight gain; for weight loss, more than 250 minutes per week is recommended. The ACSM issued its position stand (“Appropriate Physical Activity Intervention Strategies for Weight Loss and Prevention of Weight Regain for Adults”) in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (2009; doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181949333).


Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA

Shirley Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.

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