Final answer:
ACSM exercise prescriptions for health and fitness recommend a combination of muscle-strengthening and aerobic activities. Adults should aim for 150-300 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75-150 minutes of vigorous exercise weekly, plus muscle-strengthening exercises at least twice a week.
Step-by-step explanation:
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) provides guidelines for exercise prescription to develop and maintain muscular strength and endurance vital for health and fitness. For muscular strength, exercises like weight training and other forms of resistance exercise are recommended. Meanwhile, for muscular endurance, aerobic exercises such as cycling and running are encouraged. Both types of exercise contribute to overall health, with additional benefits like maintaining healthy weight, improving bone density, and cognitive function.
According to the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines by the HHS, adults are advised to engage in at least 150 minutes to 300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes to 150 minutes per week of vigorous intensity. Furthermore, muscle-strengthening activities should be done on 2 or more days per week. These guidelines suggest that engaging in physical activity beyond 300 minutes per week may render additional health benefits, including weight loss maintenance.