Adults

Inactive vs. Active adults in the United States

When comparing no leisure time physical activity in adults during the years of 2000 and 2001 there was a 1.4% decrease when averaging all the 50 states data from 27.4% to 26.0% 36.  The criteria for no leisure time activity was no physical activity or exercises such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking 36.

When comparing those over 18 years old who engaged in activities consistent with physical activities recommendations in the years 2000 and 2001 there was an increase from 26.2% to 45.4% 36.  The criteria for active recommendations were 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 days a week or vigorous intensity work for 20 minutes a day, three days a week 36. 

However, the percentage of adults in 2001 who engaged in physical activity increased for several reasons 36.  The questionnaire in 2001 included activities such as household, transportation, and leisure-time, whereas the 2000 questionnaire only included leisure-time 36.  Second, the 2001 profiled activities in a usual week rather than the top two activities during the preceding month; therefore, less frequent activities might not have been mentioned in the 2000 question format could be included in the 2001 activity profile.  Finally, in 2001, respondents were asked specifically to recall moderate and vigorous activities separately, increasing the potential to recall less intense lifestyle activities 36. In the United States, across rural and urban populations, 3 out of every 5 adults were physically inactive during leisure time 47. 

*  Alumni participation in three types of physical activity over the previous seven days 53

Physical Activity	0	Number of  1-2	Days 3-4	> 5
Vigorous physical activity
Men	21.0	46.1	26.7	6.2
Women	28.4	39.5	22.0	10.1
Total	23.2	44.1	25.3	7.4
Moderate physical activity
Men	29.2	49.7	16.0	5.3
Women	24.1	49.1	18.5	8.1
Total	27.7	49.6	16.7	6.0
Strengthening type physical activity
Men	39.8	38.1	16.3	5.8
Women	51.3	30.3	14.7	3.7
Total	43.2	35.8	15.8	5.2

 

*Values are expressed in percentages (%) of men, women, or total participants

For more information on adults and the benefits of exercise refer to these sources:

• Walking Compared with Vigorous Exercise for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Women 35

• International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity 13

• Physical activity and all causes of Mortality in Women: A Review of the Evidence 36
  

For more information on number of adults participating in physical activity refer to these sources:

• Prevalence of no leisure time physical activity - 35 states and the District of Columbia, 1988-2002 19

• Twenty year Trends in physical activity among Canadian adults 10