Final answer:
The central idea of the passage is that the 'sit less, move more' guideline is too generic and lacks the actionable detail necessary to effectively encourage healthy levels of physical activity. Diaz advocates for clearer, evidence-based physical activity recommendations such as those outlined in the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central idea of the passage from "Yes, Sitting Too Long Can Kill You, Even if You Exercise" is that the recommendation to simply 'sit less and move more' provided by the American Heart Association is too vague to be effectively actionable. Keith Diaz, the study's lead author, compares it to advising someone to 'exercise' without specifying how, indicating a need for more detailed guidance on healthy levels of physical activity.
Physical activity is crucial in maintaining vascular homeostasis and overall health. It is recommended that adults engage in at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, spread across several days, to reap substantial health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart attacks, improving cardiovascular and muscular fitness, and aiding in weight loss and weight maintenance. Additional muscle-strengthening activities should also be included at least twice a week.
Thus, the comprehensively evidenced-based guidelines provided in the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans aim to clarify the nature and amount of exercise necessary to improve health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. This specificity is what Diaz advocates for, in contrast to the oversimplified advice discussed in the passage.