Healthy habits directly benefit the skeleton and muscles. Good nutrition supplies calcium for bone mineralization and bone density. A healthy weight reduces excess mechanical stress on weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees.

The Healthy People 2020 objectives set goals for physical activity aimed at increasing the proportion of adults meeting guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity (Fig. 1). These goals are based on the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, an evidence-based report that highlights the benefits of physical activity, including risk reduction for early death, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, breast and colon cancer, obesity, osteoporosis, falls, and depression. Physical activity also helps improve sleep quality and cognitive function in older adults.

FIGURE 1. Encourage physical activity.

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