QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Who Met Federal Guidelines for Aerobic Physical Activity Through Leisure-Time Activity,* by Race/Ethnicity — National Health Interview Survey,† 2008–2017

Weekly / March 29, 2019 / 68(12);292

The figure is a line chart showing that during 2008–2017, the percentage of adults aged ≥18 years who met federal guidelines for aerobic physical activity through leisure-time activity increased from 43.5% in 2008 to 54.1% in 2017. This pattern was seen in each of the three race/ethnicity groups shown, with an increase from 33.4% to 45.0% for Hispanic, 34.1% to 44.3% for non-Hispanic black, and 46.0% to 58.6% for non-Hispanic white adults. Throughout the period, non-Hispanic white adults were more likely to meet the guidelines through leisure-time activity than were non-Hispanic black and Hispanic adults.

* Based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (https://www.health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/default.aspx ). Respondents were considered to meet aerobic activity guidelines through leisure-time activity if they reported moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity for ≥150 minutes leisure-time activity per week, vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity for ≥75 minutes leisure-time activity per week, or an equivalent combination of moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity leisure-time activity.

† Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population and are derived from the National Health Interview Survey Sample Adult component.

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During 2008–2017, the percentage of adults aged ≥18 years who met federal guidelines for aerobic physical activity through leisure-time activity increased from 43.5% in 2008 to 54.1% in 2017. This pattern was seen in each race/ethnicity group shown, with an increase from 33.4% to 45.0% for Hispanic, 34.1% to 44.3% for non-Hispanic black, and 46.0% to 58.6% for non-Hispanic white adults. Throughout the period, non-Hispanic white adults were more likely to meet the guidelines through leisure-time activity than were non-Hispanic black and Hispanic adults.

Source: National Health Interview Survey, 2008–2017. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/index.htm.

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Reported by: Mark J. Montgomery, MPH, lqk1@cdc.gov, 301-458-4977; Deepthi Kandi, MS.

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Suggested citation for this article: QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Who Met Federal Guidelines for Aerobic Physical Activity Through Leisure-Time Activity, by Race/Ethnicity — National Health Interview Survey, 2008–2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019;68:292. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6812a6 .