Life Trends: Physical Activity

2. Physical Activity Trends Among
Adults in the US
• The physical activity data are from the Behavioral Risk
Factor Surveillance System, a national telephone survey
conducted by the CDC and state health departments.
• Two categories are measured:
• No Leisure-Time Physical Activity
• Physical Activity level 2008 Guidelines

3. Physical Activity Trends among
Adults in the US
No Leisure-Time physical activity is defined as no
reported leisure-time physical activities, i.e. any physical
activities or exercises such as running, calisthenics, golf,
gardening, or walking.

4. Physical Activity Guidelines
 The Federal Physical Activity Guidelines include both
aerobic physical activity and muscle-strengthening.
Respondents were classified as meeting the guidelines if
they reported meeting both.
 Aerobic guidelines—participate in > 2 and ½ hours (150
minutes) per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity,
or 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous-intensity
minutes aerobic activity, or an equivalent combination of
moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity where
vigorous-intensity minutes are multiplied by two, totaling
> 2 and ½ hours (150 minutes) per week.
 Muscle-strengthening guidelines— participating in
muscle-strengthening activities > 2 times per week.

6. Trends in Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines Among Urban and
Rural Dwelling Adults — United States, 2008–2017
 CDC analyzed 2008–2017 National Health Interview
Survey (NHIS) data to examine trends in the age-
standardized prevalence of meeting physical activity
guidelines among adults aged ≥18 years living in urban
and rural areas.
Whitfield GP, Carlson SA, Ussery EN, Fulton JE, Galuska DA, Petersen R. Trends in Meeting Physical Activity
Guidelines Among Urban and Rural Dwelling Adults — United States, 2008–2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
2019;68:513–518.

8. FIGURE. Age-standardized prevalence (with 95% confidence interval)
of meeting the combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical
activity guidelines among adults, by urban and rural residence —
National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2008–2017

9. Trends in Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines Among Urban and
Rural Dwelling Adults — United States, 2008–2017
 The prevalence of meeting the combined aerobic and
muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines among
adults increased since 2008 (18.2%) but remained low
(24.3%) in 2017.
 In 2017, only one in four (25.3%) urban residents and one in
five (19.6%) rural residents met the combined guidelines.
 Since 2008, the prevalence of meeting physical activity
guidelines increased from 19.4% to 25.3% among urban
residents and from 13.3% to 19.6% among rural residents.
 Among urban residents, all subgroups reported increases,
whereas among rural residents, no increases were reported
among Hispanics and adults living in the South.

10. Summary on Physical Activity in
the US
 24.3% adults meet the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines.
 Less than one-quarter (24%) of children 6 to 17 years of age
participate in 60 minutes of physical activity every day
 In 2017, only 26.1% of high school students participate in at
least 60 minutes per day of physical activity on all 7 days of
the previous week.9
 Americans living in the South are more likely to be less
physically active than Americans living in the West,
Northeast and Midwest regions of the country.
 Younger adults are more likely to meet the 2008 Physical
Activity Guideline for aerobic activity than older adults.

11. Summary on Physical Activity in
the US
 More non-Hispanic white adults (22.8%) meet the 2008
Physical Activity Guidelines for aerobic and muscle-
strengthening activity than non-Hispanic black adults
(17.3%) and Hispanic adults (14.4%).
 Adults with more education are more likely to meet the
2008 Physical Activity Guideline for aerobic activity than
adults with less education.
 Adults whose family income is above the poverty level are
more likely to meet the 2008 Physical Activity Guideline for
aerobic activity than adults whose family income is at or
near the poverty level.

12. Data from the combined National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the
NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey, 2012 for
Youth
 In 2012, about 24.8%,one-quarter of U.S. youth aged 12–15
years engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for
at least 60 minutes daily.
 Basketball was the most common activity reported among
active boys, followed by running, football, bike riding, and
walking.
 Running was the most common activity among active girls,
followed by walking, basketball, dancing, and bike riding.
 The percentage of male youth who were physically active
for at least 60 minutes daily decreased as weight status
increased.

13. New York State Participation in
Physical Activity 2013
 19.4% of adults met both PA guidelines.
 47.3% met the aerobic and 30.1% met the strength
training guidelines.
 25.7% of adolescents are physically active daily
 18.9% of adolescent participate in daily PE
http://nccd.cdc.gov/NPAO_DTM/LocationSummary.aspx?state=New%20York