McTiernan appointed to physical activity guidelines committee

Dr. Anne McTiernan of the Public Health Sciences Division will serve on a scientific advisory committee that will make recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services for the development of the first federal guidelines to focus on physical activity.

The committee will issue its Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans in late 2008. The report will provide science-based recommendations on the latest knowledge about activity and health, including information for specific subgroups, such as seniors, children and persons with disabilities. The guidelines aim to promote the role of exercise in maintaining health.

McTiernan's appointment stems from her expertise on the association of physical activity and cancer risk and the effect of exercise on biological precursors of cancer and other diseases. She joins 12 other researchers on the committee.

"These experts have a broad array of knowledge of the health value of physical activity," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "I look forward to working with them to develop evidence-based guidelines on physical-activity levels."