Developments in Leisure-Time Actual physical Inactivity by Age, Intercourse, and Race

Material

Actual physical inactivity is linked with improved danger for selected long-term conditions, which includes cardiovascular sickness, diabetic issues, and osteoporosis.^[1] In spite of the advantages of physical action, extra than 50 percent of older people in the United States are not regularly energetic at the suggested amounts.^[2] Tendencies in the proportion of grownups who realize the encouraged levels of leisure-time actual physical activity have remained somewhat steady around time.^[3,4] Nonetheless, the proportion of grownups from 35 states and the District of Columbia who noted that they did not interact in any leisure-time bodily exercise declined from 1996 to 2002.^[5] To even further study tendencies in no leisure-time actual physical exercise by population subgroup, CDC analyzed knowledge from the Behavioral Threat Factor Surveillance Program (BRFSS) for the period of time 1994-2004. This report is the first investigation of BRFSS physical-inactivity developments that incorporates all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC). State and local wellness departments ought to continue to generate courses that persuade adults to be physically active for the duration of leisure time.

BRFSS is a state-primarily based telephone survey of the non-institutionalized, U.S. civilian, population aged ≥18 decades. Details on leisure-time physical action were being collected just about every other calendar year from 1994 to 2000 facts were being collected each year commencing in 2000. Rhode Island did not talk to the study issue in 1994. The study sample sizes ranged from 105,853 in 1994 to 296,971 in 2004 for 50 states and DC.

Leisure-time actual physical inactivity was defined as a “no” reaction to the survey issue, “In the course of the earlier month, other than your typical occupation, did you participate in any bodily actions or training, these types of as functioning, calisthenics, golfing, gardening, or going for walks for workout?” The reference time frame for the wording of this study concern was revised in 2001 to “For the duration of the previous 30 times” and was improved back again to “All through the previous thirty day period” in 2002. Also, in 2001, the phrase “other than your standard job” was extra.

Prevalence estimates by sexual intercourse, age, and race/ethnicity for 50 states and DC ended up weighted to account for nonresponse and to represent the populations of states/regions provided in the review. Sex and race/ethnicity estimates had been age-modified to the 2000 U.S. inhabitants, and tests for craze was performed for men and gals for each and every age category. Statistical investigation application was made use of to account for the sophisticated sampling style and design. The median CASRO response level was 69.9% in 1994 and 52.8% in 2004.

In general, the prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity declined noticeably, from 29.8% in 1994 to 23.7% in 2004 (p<0.001). The proportions of physical inactivity among men and women were highest in 1994 (men, 27.9% women, 31.5%) and decreased through 2004 (men, 21.4% women, 25.9%) ( Table ). The largest decline was among men aged 50-59 years (from 33.5% to 23.5%) and among women aged 60-69 years (from 37.8% to 28.5%). Among racial/ethnic groups, during 1994-2004, prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity was lowest among non-Hispanic white men and decreased from 26.4% to 18.4%. Among non-Hispanic black men, the prevalence of physical inactivity decreased from 34.2% in 1994 to 27.0% in 2004. Among Hispanic men, the prevalence of leisure-time inactivity decreased from 37.5% in 1994 to 32.5% in 2004. Non-Hispanic black women (45.7% in 1994 to 33.9% in 2004) and Hispanic women (44.8% in 1994 to 39.6% in 2004) had higher prevalences than non-Hispanic white women (28.3% in 1994 to 21.6% in 2004).

Among men, the prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity declined significantly for each age group (test for trend [p<0.001]) (Figure 1). In 2004, the highest prevalence of physical inactivity among men was among those aged ≥70 years (27.9%), and the lowest was among those aged 18-29 years (16.4%). For women in every age group, the prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity also declined significantly (test for trend p<0.001) (Figure 2) from 1996 to 2004. Women aged ≥70 years had the highest prevalence of physical inactivity.

Documented by: J Kruger, PhD, SA Ham, MS, HW Kohl III, PhD, Div of Diet and Bodily Action, Countrywide Center for Serious Disease Avoidance and Health Promotion, CDC.