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Cited by 140Physical Activity and HealthObesity, Physical Activity, DietSports and Physical Education Studies

Percentage of deaths associated with inadequate physical activity in the United States.

Open access
Carlson, Susan A., Adams, E. Kathleen, Yang, Zhou, Fulton, Janet E.·2018·Preventing Chronic Disease
DOI 10.5888/pcd18.170354PMC PMC5894301
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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Current physical activity guidelines recommend that adults participate weekly in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity equivalent aerobic physical activity to achieve substantial health benefits. We used a nationally representative sample of data of US adults to estimate the percentage of deaths attributable to levels of physical activity that were inadequate to meet the aerobic guideline. METHODS: Data from the 1990 to 1991 National Health Interview Survey for adults aged 25 years or older were linked with mortality data up until December 31, 2011, from the National Death Index (N = 67,762 persons and 18,796 deaths). Results from fully adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios and population attributable fractions for inadequate levels of physical activity (ie, less than 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity equivalent aerobic activity). RESULTS: Overall, 8.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.4-10.2) of deaths were attributed to inadequate levels of physical activity. The percentage of deaths attributed to inadequate levels was not significant for adults aged 25 to 39 years (-0.2%; 95% CI, -8.8% to 7.7%) but was significant for adults aged 40 to 69 years (9.9%; 95% CI, 7.2%-12.6%) and adults aged 70 years or older (7.8%; 95% CI, 4.9%-10.7%). CONCLUSIONS: A significant portion of deaths was attributed to inadequate levels of physical activity. Increasing adults' physical activity levels to meet current guidelines is likely one way to reduce the risk of premature death in the United States.

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  1. [15]Jones N, Campbell E, editors. Clinical exercise testing. 2nd Edition. Philadelphia (PA): WB Saunders; 1982.

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Authors
Carlson, S. A., Adams, E. K., Yang, Z., & Fulton, J. E.
Affiliations
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
  • Emory University (US)
Corresponding author
Carlson, Susan A.
ORCID
Venue
Preventing Chronic Disease
Publisher
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Preventing Chronic Disease
Published
2018-03-29
Volume
15
Pages
E38-E38
ISSN
1545-1151 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.5888/pcd18.170354
PMC
PMC5894301
OpenAlex
W2793616397
Cited by
140
References
25
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 2
FWCI
9.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
public-domain
Locations
  • Preventing Chronic Disease (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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, mortality, premature mortality, population attributable fraction, physical activity guidelines, aerobic exercise, moderate-intensity exercise, adults, age differences, National Health Interview Survey, National Death Index
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cause of Death, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, United States, Exercise, Proportional Hazards Models, Age Distribution, Sedentary Behavior, Mortality, Premature

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