Move More (Chronic Disease Prevention)

Chronic diseases are conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention, limit activities of daily living, or both.¹ Examples include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and lung diseases.

• In Madison County, chronic disease is the leading cause of more than half of premature deaths (under age 75).
• More than 40% of New York adults have a chronic disease, and chronic diseases are responsible for 23% of all hospitalizations in New York State.
• About 42% of people in the United States have two or more chronic conditions.
• Chronic diseases account for more than 85% of total health care costs.² They can cause physical and emotional changes, limit day-to-day activities, and negatively impact quality of life.

The good news is that some chronic diseases can be prevented by taking these steps: eat well, move more, and live smoke-free.

Moving more and sitting less benefits everyone. Physical activity has many immediate and long-term benefits. It can help you feel better, function better, and sleep better. Over time, it can also help prevent chronic disease.

How much physical activity should I be getting?

• Adults: 150–300 minutes (2.5–5 hours) or more per week of physical activity.^1,2
  (For example: a 20-minute brisk walk and 10 minutes of strength exercises each day.)
• Children (ages 3–17): 60 minutes or more of activity per day.

How should I get physical activity?

Physical activity can look many different ways, including:

1. Endurance (cardio): running, walking, hiking, biking, swimming, dancing
2. Flexibility and balance: stretching, yoga, Pilates
3. Strength: push-ups, planks, squats, lunges, sit-ups, weightlifting
4. Daily chores: vacuuming, gardening, grocery shopping
5. Sports and recreation: playing sports is also a great way to move your body while having fun

Find what works for you — any physical activity is better than none.

Local Resources

1.  Madison County Trail Maps 
2. Madison County Rural Health Council (Website, Facebook)
   •  Monday Mile 
   •  National Diabetes Prevention Program (Prevent T2) 

Want to see local data?

Visit our  Community Health Assessment .

Quick Links

•  Physical Activity Recommendations  (World Health Organization)
•  Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (PDF)  (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
•  Top 10 Things to Know about the Physical Activity Guidelines  (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

References

1.  About Chronic Diseases (CDC) 
2.  The Relation of the Chronic Disease Epidemic to the Health Care Crisis 

Updated January 16, 2026