Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES ADVISORY COMMITTEE The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee (Committee) was formed to provide independent advice and recommendations based on current scientific evidence for use by the federal government in developing the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Nominations for nationally recognized experts in the field of physical activity and health were sought from the public through a Federal Register notice published on December 18, 2015. Criteria for Committee members included knowledge about current scientific research in human physical activity; familiarity with the purpose, communication, and application of federal physical activity guidelines; and demonstrated interest in the public’s health and well-being through their research and/or educational endeavors. Expertise was sought in specific specialty areas related to physical activity and health promotion or disease prevention, including but not limited to: health promotion and chronic disease prevention; bone, joint, and muscle health and performance; obesity and weight management; physical activity and risk of musculoskeletal injury; physical activity and cognition; physical activity within specific settings, such as preschool or childcare, schools (e.g., activity breaks, physical education), the community, or built environment; physical activity dose-response; sedentary behavior; behavior change; systematic reviews; and special populations, including children, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and women who are pregnant or postpartum. Part B. Introduction 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report B-3 To ensure that recommendations of the Committee took into account the needs of the diverse groups served by HHS, membership was sought to include, to the extent practicable, a diverse group of men and women with representation from various geographic locations, racial and ethnic groups, and individuals with disabilities. Equal opportunity practices, in line with HHS policies, were followed in all membership appointments to the Committee. Appointments were made without discrimination on the basis of age, race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or cultural, religious, or socioeconomic status. Individuals were appointed to serve as members of the Committee to represent balanced viewpoints of the scientific evidence and not to represent the viewpoints of any specific group. Members of the Committee were classified as Special Government Employees during their term of appointment, and as such were subject to the ethical standards of conduct for all federal employees. The Committee served without pay and worked under the regulations of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, known as FACA (Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2, the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972), as amended). The Secretary of HHS appointed 17 individuals for membership to the Committee in June 2016. The selected individuals are highly respected by their peers for their depth and breadth of scientific knowledge of the relationship between physical activity and health in all relevant areas of the current Physical Activity Guidelines. Biographical sketches of the Committee members are presented in Part H. Appendix 3. Biographical sketches. CHARGE TO THE COMMITTEE The Committee was established for the single, time-limited task of reviewing the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and developing physical activity and related health recommendations in this Scientific Report to the Secretary of HHS. The Committee’s charge, which was described in the Committee’s charter, is as follows: The Committee, whose duties are time-limited and solely advisory in nature, will: • Examine the first edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and determine topics for which new scientific evidence is likely to be available that may reconfirm or inform revisions to the current guidance or suggest new guidance. Part B. Introduction 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report B-4 • Place its primary focus on the systematic review and analysis of the evidence published since the last Committee deliberations. • Place its primary emphasis on the development of physical activity recommendations for the general population in the United States and for specific subgroups of the population where warranted by a public health need. • Prepare and submit to the Secretary of HHS a scientific advisory report of technical recommendations with rationales to inform the development of the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The Committee is responsible for providing authorship for this scientific report; however, responsibilities do not include translating the recommendations into policy, developing a draft of the policy, or making recommendations for implementation, including communication and outreach strategies. • Disband upon the submittal of the Committee’s recommendations via the scientific advisory report to the Secretary of HHS. • Complete all work within the two-year charter time frame. COMMITTEE PROCESSES The Committee operated under the regulations of the Federal Advisory Committee Act as outlined in its charter which