Physical Activity Rising In U.S. Adults
More U.S. adults are making fitness a habit, according to the CDC.
The CDC reported that the percentage of U.S. adults reporting regular exercise or physical activity jumped nearly 9 percent from 2001 to 2005.
Those findings came from telephone surveys of more than 205,000 adults in 2001 and more than 356,000 adults in 2005.
Participants answered questions about how often and how long they get moderate or vigorous physical activity.
Moderate physical activities included walking, biking, and gardening -- anything that nudges your heart rate up a little bit.
Vigorous physical activities included running and aerobics, the sort of activity that really pushes your heart rate and breathing.
The CDC totaled the number of people who meet at least one of these standards:
Moderate physical activity: At least 30 minutes per day on 5 or more days per week
Vigorous physical activity: At least 20 minutes per day on 3 or more days per week
In 2005, nearly half of the men -- 49.7 percent -- and almost as many women -- 46.7 percent -- met those benchmarks.
That's an increase of almost 4 percent for men and nearly 9 percent for women compared with the 2001 survey.
African-American men and women made the largest gains in their physical activity and exercise statistics.
The findings are a step in the right direction. But the CDC points out that fewer than half of U.S. adults meet the government's minimum standards for physical activity.
Translation: Way to go, but don't stop now.
If you're ready to step up your physical activity level, don't do too much too soon, and check in with your doctor first.
The CDC published its findings in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
By Miranda Hitti
Reviewed by Louise Chang
?2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved
© 2007 WebMD, LLC.. All Rights Reserved. The CDC reported that the percentage of U.S. adults reporting regular exercise or physical activity jumped nearly 9 percent from 2001 to 2005.
Those findings came from telephone surveys of more than 205,000 adults in 2001 and more than 356,000 adults in 2005.
Participants answered questions about how often and how long they get moderate or vigorous physical activity.
Moderate physical activities included walking, biking, and gardening -- anything that nudges your heart rate up a little bit.
Vigorous physical activities included running and aerobics, the sort of activity that really pushes your heart rate and breathing.
The CDC totaled the number of people who meet at least one of these standards:
In 2005, nearly half of the men -- 49.7 percent -- and almost as many women -- 46.7 percent -- met those benchmarks.
That's an increase of almost 4 percent for men and nearly 9 percent for women compared with the 2001 survey.
African-American men and women made the largest gains in their physical activity and exercise statistics.
The findings are a step in the right direction. But the CDC points out that fewer than half of U.S. adults meet the government's minimum standards for physical activity.
Translation: Way to go, but don't stop now.
If you're ready to step up your physical activity level, don't do too much too soon, and check in with your doctor first.
The CDC published its findings in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
By Miranda Hitti
Reviewed by Louise Chang
?2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved
Popular in Health
- Once obese dachshund gets surgery to remove excess skin
- Scientists scratch the surface of itching's origins
- Surgeons remove 4-pound hairball from tiger 10 Photos
- Skin cancer self-exam: What to look for (PHOTOS)
- Feet come first when it comes to body parts with most fungi
- Cause of Alabama mystery illness cluster determined
- Surgeons remove 4-pound hairball from 400-pound tiger
- How to get in shape for your wedding
Wrong, that is the Orwellian "Physical jerks", nothing more. Waste energy accomplishing nothing, avoid pleasure, don''t think too much, give all your energy to us, and if you have any left, run it out of your system. This is "their right direction".
My right direction? turn off the TV, fire up a good one, (or eat it in some good food, if you don''t smoke) turn the lights down low, and enjoy some jazz as background music for some good old fashioned free (for most) enjoyment, the kind of exercise you don''t need to force yourself to do.
Or go support live music.