Trend and Prevalence Estimates Based on the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
Abstract
Background According to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults need to engage in at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity activity or its equivalent (defined as aerobically active) to obtain substantial health benefits and more than 300 minutes/week (defined as highly active) to obtain more extensive health benefits. In addition to aerobic activity, the 2008 Guidelines recommend that adults participate in muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days/week.Purpose This study examined the prevalence and trends of meeting the activity criteria defined by the 2008 Guidelines among U.S. adults.Methods Prevalence and trends of participation in leisure-time physical activity were estimated from the 1998-2008 National Health Interview Survey (analyzed in 2010).Results In 2008, 43.5% of U.S. adults were aerobically active, 28.4% were highly active, 21.9% met the muscle-strengthening guideline, and 18.2% both met the muscle-strengthening guideline and were aerobically active. The likelihood of meeting each of these four activity criteria was similar and were associated with being male, being younger, being non-Hispanic white, having higher levels of education, and having a lower BMI. Trends over time were also similar for each part of the 2008 Guidelines, with the prevalence of participation exhibiting a small but significant increase when comparing 1998 to 2008 (difference ranging from 2.4 to 4.2 percentage points).Conclusions Little progress has been made during the past 10 years in increasing physical activity levels in the U.S. There is much room for improvement in achieving recommended levels of physical activity among Americans, particularly among relatively inactive subgroups.
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According to 2006 MEPS and 2006 BRFSS data, annual medical expenditures would be 6.7% to 10.7% lower in the absence of obesity.
“annual medical expenditures would be 6.7% to 10.7% lower in the absence of obesity.54”
From Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2013 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association (2013) · cites this paper as [54]
A meta-analysis of 12 prospective cohort studies including 518,520 participants found that prehypertension was associated with incident stroke.
“A meta-analysis of 12 prospective cohort studies (including 518 520 participants) found prehypertension was associated with incident stroke.”
From Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2013 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association (2013) · cites this paper as [54]
The association between prehypertension and stroke risk was particularly noted in nonelderly persons and in those with blood pressure values in the higher prehypertension range.
“The risk was particularly noted in nonelderly persons and for those with BP values in the higher prehypertension range.54”
From Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2013 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association (2013) · cites this paper as [54]
Analysis of CHS data found that lifestyle risk factors including physical activity level, dietary habits, smoking habits, alcohol use, and adiposity measures, assessed late in life, were each independently associated with risk of new-onset diabetes; participants whose physical activity and dietary, smoking, and alcohol habits were all in the low-risk group had an 82% lower incidence of diabetes,
“Analysis of data from the CHS of the NHLBI found that lifestyle risk factors, including PA level, dietary habits, smoking habits, alcohol use, and adiposity measures, assessed late in life, were each independently associated with risk of new-onset DM. Participants whose PA level and dietary, smoking, and alcohol habits were all in the low-risk group had an 82% lower incidence of DM than all other”
From Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2013 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association (2013) · cites this paper as [54]
When absence of adiposity was added to the other 4 low-risk lifestyle factors, incidence of diabetes was 89% lower.
“When absence of adiposity was added to the other 4 low-risk lifestyle factors, incidence of DM was 89% lower.54”
From Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2013 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association (2013) · cites this paper as [54]
Physical activity levels for the large majority of Latinos are below U.S. national guidelines and lower compared to non-Latino whites.
“However, PA levels for the large majority of Latinos are below U.S. national guidelines [2–8] and lower compared to non-Latino whites [5–8].”
From Pasos Hacia La Salud: a randomized controlled trial of an internet-delivered physical activity intervention for Latinas (2016) · cites this paper as [5]
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- Authors
- Carlson, S. A., Fulton, J. E., Schoenborn, C. A., & Loustalot, F.
- Affiliations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- National Center for Health Statistics (US)
- Corresponding author
- Carlson, Susan A.
- Venue
- American Journal of Preventive Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-10
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 305-313
- ISSN
- 0749-3797 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1978248025
- Cited by
- 415
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 28
- FWCI
- 14.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Social Sciences › Life-span and Life-course Studies › Sports and Physical Education Studies
- Keywords
- physical activity, aerobic exercise, muscle-strengthening activity, leisure-time physical activity, physical activity prevalence, physical activity trends, adult physical activity
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Educational Status, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, Sex Factors, United States, Exercise, Prevalence, Guidelines as Topic, Guideline Adherence, Muscle Strength, Young Adult
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