Most Adults Don't Get
Enough Physical Activity

Even though the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has broadened its definition of physical activity, most Americans are still not meeting minimum exercise recommendations, according to a new report by the public health agency.

To reduce the risk of heart disease and other chronic problems, the CDC currently recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity for five or more days each week, CDC officials note in the August 15th issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

In surveys conducted between 1986 and 2000, the CDC interpreted physical activity as meaning primarily exercise or sports-related activities. In 2001, however, in response to expanded activity recommendations, the CDC broadened its definition to include lifestyle activities, such as gardening, vacuuming, and walking to do errands.

Despite the change, only 45.4% of adults surveyed in 2001 engaged in activities consistent with physical activity recommendations. Still, this percentage is an improvement from 2000, when only 26.2% of respondents met activity recommendations. The percentage of physically inactive adults was nearly the same each year--about 27%.

In 2000, Washington, DC and Kentucky had the highest and lowest percentage, respectively, of citizens who were following activity recommendations.

In 2001, the state with the highest percentage of recommendation followers switched to Wyoming, while Kentucky continued to have the lowest percentage.

SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, August 15, 2003.

Reference Source 89

For more information on how to prevent other diseases, use
PreventDisease.com's "Quick Prevention Resources".