WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rise and shine, Americans--President Bush wants you to get out and exercise.

"People ought to work out every day, one way or another," Bush said Thursday on the White House south lawn, which was turned into a sports field for an early morning kickoff of a new initiative to promote healthier living.

Bush, who runs about 3 miles a day and lifts weights to keep in shape, encouraged Americans to live a healthier lifestyle, saying even small changes in activity and diet can have big payoffs for their well-being.

"If you're interested in improving America, you can do so by taking care of your own body," Bush said.

The president wore a dress shirt and slacks as he mingled with youth soccer players practicing drills, professional sports stars and fitness experts among displays set up on the south lawn, and told reporters he would exercise before an evening speaking engagement.

"After working all day long, before the speech, I'm going to work out. I'm going to run, going to lift weights, do some elliptical training," he said.

Senior Bush aide Karen Hughes stood by in running shorts and a T-shirt, saying she was doing her part at least to look athletic, but would not work out at a White House gym until later in the day.

First Lady Laura Bush, who said she herself lifted weights three times a week, said physical activity was especially important for children.

"Children don't really want to be fat. It's embarrassing for them," she said on ABC's "Good Morning America."

"So it's really up to the adults, the parents to put the meals on the table for the children and try to serve their children healthy food, encourage their children to get outside every day and exercise," she said.

A 16-page red-white-and-blue White House briefing paper on the "HealthierUSA" initiative suggests that adults get at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day--broken into 10- or 15-minute intervals if necessary--and that children and teen-agers get at least an hour.

It also recommends a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and light on sugars and fat, preventive medical screenings to identify health problems before they arise, and avoiding "risky behaviors" such as smoking or drug and alcohol abuse.

Bush's get-in-shape drive will include a chat Friday with senior citizens in Orlando, Florida, about how the elderly can work out, and a "Fitness Challenge"--including footraces among his aides--on Saturday at Fort McNair in Washington.

The president plans to lace up his running shoes to lead a 3-mile race at the Washington military installation while his wife, Laura, will take walkers on a 1.5-mile stroll.

Reference Source 89

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