In 1995 leading exercise scientists and medical specialists convened in Bethesda, Maryland, under the sponsorship of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to review the evidence of physical activity's influencing cardiovascular health. This reference presents the Consensus Statement from the 1995 Conference on Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health and the supporting papers presented there.

The 28 papers document

• public health problems of sedentary lifestyles,
• current data and opinions on the contributions of different types and amounts of physical activity to reducing cardiovascular disease, and
• the role that exercise has in rehabilitating people with cardiovascular disease.

This NIH conference report complements and augments the Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity. Readers also will find successful approaches for implementing and maintaining physical activity programs for various populations, including older adults and people with disabilities.