Physical Activity and Public Health-Reply

In Reply. —These letters raise important issues pertinent to the previously published recommendation on physical activity and public health. Dr Mauer correctly notes that from a biological standpoint, physical activity performed in the occupational setting is expected to be as beneficial as that performed during leisure time.^1,2 Because the trend toward decreasing occupational physical activity is profound and seems unlikely to reverse, the panelists chose to emphasize strategies for promotion of leisure-time physical activity. Increasing the physical activity level of our society will require an array of social and physical environmental changes that collectively have the effect of making physical activity more attractive and accessible. While occupational physical activity is beneficial, we suspect that future increases in physical activity will occur primarily during leisure time.

Mr Pugh and colleagues appropriately point out that higher levels of physical activity are associated with higher rates of musculoskeletal injury.^3,4 Our panelists