Surveys show up to 48 million Americans—men and women who don't regularly participate in outdoor sports—would accept an invitation to go target shooting, fishing or hunting.

Why?

For the fun of it, mostly. Research by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which created the STEP OUTSIDE® program to encourage shooters, anglers and hunters to invite newcomers, shows that people would eagerly jump at a chance to get out, enjoy recreation, sport and competition, spend time with friends, and perhaps provide their families with flavorful and nutritious wild meats.

And, now, another reason to invite someone to go along:  for the exercise.

Fifty-four percent of Americans are overweight. So, of the 48 million who would accept an invitation to STEP OUTSIDE, almost 26 million may gain significant health benefits from the physical activity.

"Participation in traditional outdoor sports is trending one direction, while our country's obesity crisis is trending the opposite direction. Perhaps that's not coincidental. As our culture becomes more sedentary and detached from nature and outdoor lifestyles, it's no surprise that our collective waistline would begin to pay the price," said Doug Painter, president of NSSF. "Today we encourage avid sportsmen and women to take someone along on your next outing. Sharing the experience could not only add quality—but also quantity—to both of your lives."

Taking a STEP OUTSIDE may indeed be one of the best steps that you and your invitees will ever make. Getting out is a pleasant alternative to mundane workouts like jogging or lifting weights, and infinitely preferable over couch-potato stanzas in front of the television or computer.

Best of all, experts say the health benefits of shooting, fishing and hunting are far more substantial than you might think.

Taking A STEP In The Right Direction

Increasing physical activity doesn’t have to mean running 10 miles a day or joining a gym.

"Many people still think that you have to run a marathon to benefit and nothing could be further from the truth,” said Tim Church, vice president of clinical and laboratory research at the Cooper Institute in Dallas, a nonprofit research center focused on exercise.

Just by getting outside and being active, Church said, the health benefits are immeasurable.

"It’s not about jogging or aerobics. You can get it through a walk, through yard work and you can certainly get it through hunting," Church said. "Most people don’t understand how little physical activity it takes to obtain substantial health benefits."

Some doctors blame the media for the public's ignorance. A 2004 report on obesity, published by the Oklahoma State Medical Association, says, "The popular media promulgates fad diets, dubious exercise devices, and questionable or potentially dangerous nutritional supplements. Patients and physicians are constantly bombarded with pseudo-scientific claims for unproven products in an attempt to garner the healthcare dollars (an estimated $92 billion per-year industry), prompting one authority to state, 'The appetite literature is a spin doctor's paradise.'"

But it doesn't have to be that way. A rational, common-sense approach still works best for most people. For people of any weight, becoming active for just 30 minutes a day, five days a week, will help prevent high blood pressure and cholesterol and will lower the risks of cancer, depression, anxiety, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, Church said.

‘What Our Bodies Were Designed to Do’

Long before the age of supermarkets and drive-through windows, human beings spent much of their time—and energy—hunting and fishing for food.

"It's what our bodies were designed to do," Church said. "We weren’t designed to sit down at the desk for 10 hours a day. We were meant to hunt and work for our food."

“Our collective problem with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc.—which is all a very recent phenomenon—is that we have the genes of hunter-gatherers held prisoner inside the bodies of leisure-class individuals. Fat is a very efficient way to store energy and our remarkable ability to form it came about when our distant ancestors had to go for weeks between kills. Now we are faced with an over-abundance of calories on the supply side and no reason to expend them as long as the nearest supermarket stays open,” Thomas said.

While finding food at the supermarket might be easier, hunting is still a great way to burn calories and get outdoors.

"I think the kind of gradual, sustained exercise a day of hunting offers is far more beneficial than a half hour in the gym," Thomas said.

According to http://www.calorie-count.com/, you'll burn 408 calories per hour during a typical pheasant hunt. That's over 100 calories more per hour than in golf or dancing.

Counting the number of hours that you're engaged in a STEP OUTSIDE activity is just one way to measure health benefits. Another way is counting the actual steps. An inexpensive pedometer, clipped to your belt, will let you know the distance that you've covered. Hunters are notorious for ending days afield with statements such as, "I must have walked 10 miles today." A pedometer will let you know for sure.

Stressed Out? STEP Out.

Americans who participate in at least one outdoor activity on a regular basis reap mental as well as physical health benefits, according to research.

Nearly 90 percent of people ages 16 and over say participating in outdoor activities reduces their stress levels, according to a study funded by the Outdoor Industry Association. The study—conducted by research firm Harris Interactive—also found that nearly 80 percent say participating in an outdoor activity "keeps them feeling young."

"I think the health benefits go beyond mere exercise," Thomas said. "We live in a highly stressful environment, and I find no antidote for stress as effective as time in the woods."

Wild Table Fare: Compound the Health Benefits of Hunting, Fishing

In addition to the health benefits of the activities themselves, hunting and fishing provide a way to eat healthy as well.

Wild-game meats and fish are low in fat, low in cholesterol, high in protein, and the original organic alternative. The American Heart Association recommends eating venison, rabbit, pheasant and duck (without skin) as low-fat alternatives to store-bought meats. It also recommends eating grilled fish once or twice a week for its heart-healthy benefits.

“Wild game is definitely an excellent food source,” Thomas said. “Most nutritionists recognize this and treat wild game differently from store-bought meat when calculating calories, fat, etc. in a diet plan.”

The American Cancer Society notes that fish is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have proven to suppress cancer formation in animals. Omega-3 fatty acids also benefit heart health, according to the American Heart Association.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game highlights the benefits of wild-game meats at www.wildlife.alaska.gov/hunt_trap/hunting/huntak/huntak20.cfm.

The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources highlights the benefits of eating fish at www.wvdnr.gov/Fishing/HealthBenefit.shtm.

ESPN Outdoors offers tips for field care and preparing of wild meats at http://espn.go.com/outdoors/general/columns/schara_ron/1492705.html

Getting Ready For the Outdoors

If it's been a while since you were active outdoors, consult your physician or consider an exercise regimen that gradually works you up to the point of physical readiness. Certain levels of fitness will make you a better shot, and make your hunting and fishing excursions more enjoyable and safe.

It is recommended that hunters start with short walks and gradually work their way up to the amount of activity they will experience on the hunt. For example, walking or hiking on terrain similar to that found on a hunt is one way to prepare, according to Linda Patterson, health education specialist for the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

"The best way to determine whether you are in shape for a particular activity is to gradually increase the activity and see how your body handles it rather than completely exerting yourself during the hunt," Patterson said.

More tips from the MSU Extension Service can be found at http://msucares.com/news/print/fcenews/fce99/991101ds.htm.