HEALTHGet moving, CDC tells U.S. adultsModerate- or vigorous-intensity exercise a few times a week goes a long way.By Stephanie Stapleton, amednews staff. May 14, 2007. ![[download pdf]](/amednews/images/ic_pdf.gif)
Half of U.S. adults do not meet recommended levels of physical activity. The 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System found that 38% of adults were insufficiently active and 14% were inactive, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Evidence is clear regarding the health benefits of exercise and the role inactivity plays in the nation's weight problem as well as its associated morbidity and mortality. The CDC, the American College of Sports Medicine and Healthy People 2010 recommend that adults should strive to engage in moderate-intensity physical activities for at least 30 minutes on five or more days each week, or in vigorous-intensity physical activity three or more days per week for at least 20 minutes per occasion. The CDC-ACSM guidelines categorize moderate activity as burning 3.5 kcal to 7 kcal per minute. Examples include walking or biking on even terrain at 3 mph to 4.5 mph or 5 mph to 9 mph, respectively. Vigorous activity is classified as burning more than 7 kcal/minute. Race walking at 5 mph or faster, or biking at a minimum of 10 mph or riding primarily uphill, meet this standard. More CDC information and physical activity resources for health professionals are online (www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/health_professionals). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Who is active whereMost people in the U.S. do not engage in physical activities consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. But behaviors vary widely on a state-by-state basis, as seen from a 2005 survey.
Source: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a national telephone survey conducted by the CDC and state health departments Action hot spotsSome areas have more active populations than others. Insufficient physical activity is defined as doing more than 10 minutes total per week of moderate or vigorous-intensity activities. Inactivity is defined as less than 10 minutes total per week of moderate or vigorous-intensity activities.
Note: Metropolitan areas are defined as single counties or groups of counties that contain population centers of 10,000 persons or more. Many, but not all, of the largest metropolitan areas in each state were reported. Numbers do not equal 100 because of rounding. Source: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a national telephone survey conducted by the CDC and state health departments Copyright 2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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