·        In 2005, 51% of Minnesota adults reported engaging in 30 or more minutes of moderate physical activity five or more days per week OR 20 minutes or more of vigorous physical activity three or more days per week[i].

·        In 2004, 45% of 12^th grade boys and 28% of 12^th grade girls reported engaging in 30 or more minutes of moderate physical activity five or more days per week[ii].

·        An estimated $495 million was spent during 2000 treating diseases and conditions that would be avoided if all Minnesotans were physically active.  This represents over $100 each year for every man, woman and child living in Minnesota[iii]. 

A physically active Minnesota population would expect to see:

• 30 percent fewer cases of heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, and osteoporosis
• 18 percent fewer cases of type 2 diabetes and hypertension
• 16 percent fewer injuries from falls in the elderly
• 12 percent fewer cases of depression and anxiety
• 5 percent fewer cases of breast cancer[iv]

At the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Physical Activity Promotion Program exists to provide leadership, vision, coordination, planning and direction to state agencies and local public health agencies, community groups, and other interested organizations on the development, implementation and on-going refinement of a comprehensive physical activity promotion plan for Minnesota.

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