Physical activity

Physical activity encompasses any form of movement produced by the skeletal muscles that leads to energy expenditure. This activity, ranging from leisurely activities like walking and yoga, to more vigorous tasks like running or heavy lifting, is a critical component of maintaining good health and well-being.

Insufficient physical activity

Benefits of Physical Activity

SLNSW 9133 Womens class at the BjelkePetersen School of Physical Culture

Physical activity has numerous health benefits, with both immediate and long-term positive effects on the body. It contributes to the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, by reducing risk factors like high blood pressure and blood glucose levels.

In addition to physiological benefits, engaging in regular physical activity can improve mental health by reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, enhancing cognitive function, and improving overall quality of life.

Types of Physical Activity

Physical activity can be categorized into four main types: aerobic exercise, strength-building activities, balance exercises, and flexibility exercises. Each type of activity has distinct benefits, and a balanced exercise regimen will typically include elements from all four categories.

Physical Activity Recommendations

Physical activity guidelines vary by age, but in general, adults are encouraged to participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week, along with muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days a week.

Barriers and Solutions

Barriers to regular physical activity often include lack of time, poor access to safe places to exercise, and lack of motivation. Solutions involve incorporating physical activity into daily routines, creating safe public spaces for physical activity, and promoting the benefits of exercise within communities.

Physical activity statistics in the United States

According to the BRFSS survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control in 2012 in the United States with the question: During the past month, did you participate in any physical activity?

State:	Yes	No
Nationwide (States, DC, and Territories)	76.9	23.1
Nationwide (States and DC)	77.1	22.9
Alabama	72.8	27.2
Alaska	81.5	18.5
Arizona	77.4	22.6
Arkansas	68.5	31.5
California	80.8	19.2
Colorado	83.0	17.0
Connecticut	77.9	22.1
Delaware	76.5	23.5
District of Columbia	82.6	17.4
Florida	76.7	23.3
Georgia	76.4	23.6
Guam	72.4	27.6
Hawaii	81.3	18.7
Idaho	79.7	20.3
Illinois	78.2	21.8
Indiana	74.1	25.9
Iowa	76.9	23.1
Kansas	77.1	22.9
Kentucky	70.3	29.7
Louisiana	70.1	29.9
Maine	79.1	20.9
Maryland	76.9	23.1
Massachusetts	80.2	19.8
Michigan	76.7	23.3
Minnesota	82.5	17.6
Mississippi	69.2	30.8
Missouri	75.3	24.7
Montana	79.5	20.5
Nebraska	79.0	21.0
Nevada	78.7	21.3
New Hampshire	80.0	20.0
New Jersey	75.1	24.9
New Mexico	78.2	21.8
New York	75.3	24.7
North Carolina	75.1	24.9
North Dakota	76.2	23.8
Ohio	74.7	25.3
Oklahoma	71.7	28.3
Oregon	83.7	16.3
Pennsylvania	76.5	23.5
Puerto Rico	57.6	42.5
Rhode Island	76.5	23.6
South Carolina	74.9	25.1
South Dakota	77.5	22.5
Tennessee	71.4	28.6
Texas	72.8	27.2
Utah	83.5	16.6
Vermont	82.8	17.2
Virginia	77.5	22.5
Washington	81.0	19.0
West Virginia	69.0	31.0
Wisconsin	79.7	20.4
Wyoming	78.9	21.1

Percentage of adults in USA participating in the recommended 150 minutes of aerobic physical activity per week by race in 2011.

Region/State	% Total All Races	% White	% Black	% Hispanic	% Other
US	51.6	54	46.4	44.3	47.7
Alabama	42.4	43.1	40.6	37.9	44.6
Alaska	57.9	62	N/A	46.5	48.5
Arizona	52.3	56.5	55.2	42.7	51.1
Arkansas	45.7	45.5	48.8	41.9	47.7
California	58.2	65.3	56.4	50	54.2
Colorado	61.8	64.8	56	52.5	56.5
Connecticut	52.6	56	46.6	36.6	43.7
Delaware	48.5	49.7	46.4	51.1	32.2
District of Columbia	57.6	70.3	48.8	45.7	60.9
Florida	52.8	57.5	43.2	45.8	53.4
Georgia	50.7	53.4	48.3	36.7	50
Hawaii	58.5	66.1	N/A	56	52.7
Idaho	57.2	57.9	N/A	48.4	53.8
Illinois	51.7	53.8	49.1	45.9	43.3
Indiana	46	46.4	43.9	39.6	49.7
Iowa	47.6	48	54.5	37.7	43.7
Kansas	46.8	48.1	39.1	37.4	47.4
Kentucky	46.8	47.4	38.8	52.1	44.6
Louisiana	42	43.6	39.8	36.8	30.4
Maine	56.7	56.9	47.1	57.3	55.5
Maryland	48.7	50.9	44.7	47.1	44.1
Massachusetts	56.3	58.4	54.4	44.1	47.3
Michigan	53.5	55.4	44.3	44.1	53.4
Minnesota	54	55.4	43.4	40.3	47.6
Mississippi	40	42.5	35	33.4	41.6
Missouri	49.5	50.8	43.5	39.5	45.4
Montana	55.3	55.3	N/A	49	52.8
Nebraska	49	50.6	36.5	38.1	43.1
Nevada	52.6	56.6	48.2	45.6	47.6
New Hampshire	56.1	56.7	N/A	42.9	46.7
New Jersey	53.3	56.9	50.8	43.7	47.9
New Mexico	52.2	55.5	60.4	47.3	55.5
New York	51.5	54.5	46.4	47.3	45.4
North Carolina	46.8	49.6	38.9	41.5	44.3
North Dakota	47.3	47.4	N/A	48.6	49.4
Ohio	51.6	52.4	47.5	45	47.7
Oklahoma	44.8	45.7	46.5	37.3	41.5
Oregon	61.1	62.6	N/A	52.2	56
Pennsylvania	49.4	49.9	47.6	44.6	52.9
Rhode Island	48.7	51.1	41.5	34.7	44.9
South Carolina	50	53.1	43	50.7	43.3
South Dakota	46.1	46.4	N/A	34.5	44.9
Tennessee	39	39.4	32.4	46.7	56.6
Texas	48.2	51.7	48.5	43.1	45.3
Utah	55.8	57.3	47.3	46.5	54.4
Vermont	59.2	59.6	N/A	49.5	46
Virginia	52.4	55.8	42.6	39.5	58.1
Washington	54.2	56.5	41.9	39.3	54.6
West Virginia	43	42.9	42.4	46.2	52.1
Wisconsin	57.4	58.7	47.1	43.4	52
Wyoming	53.1	54.1	N/A	44.9	50.5

Glossary of exercise related terms

• Exercise: A type of physical activity that involves planned, structured, and repetitive bodily movement done to maintain or improve one or more components of physical fitness.

• Leisure-time physical activity -  Exercise, sports, and physically active hobbies done in one’s leisure time.

• Light-moderate physical activities -  These activities might include moderately-paced or leisurely walking or bicycling, slow swimming or dancing, and simple gardening. This definition is available in the NHIS Interviewer’s Manual to provide clarification to respondents, but only if the interviewer is asked.

• Metabolic Equivalent (MET) -  The MET is a unit used to estimate the amount of oxygen used by the body during physical activity. The harder the body works, the higher the MET. 1 MET = the energy (oxygen) used while sitting quietly. Any activity that burns 3 to 5.9 METs is considered moderate-intensity physical activity. Any activity that burns 6.0 METs or more is considered vigorous-intensity physical activity.

• Occupational activity -  Activity undertaken as part of one’s employment. This does not include exercise or physical activities engaged in at employer sponsored gyms or other facilities.

• Other physical activity topics -  Physical activity topics include knowledge of the health benefits of physical activity, engaging in physical activity for health-related reasons, receiving medical advice to exercise, availability of and participation in employer-sponsored exercise facilities, and engaging in family discussions about exercise.

• Perceived physical activity level -  Self-perceptions of one’s own physical activity level compared with: a) other persons the same age; b) one’s own activity level at an earlier point in time; and c) the amount of physical activity considered desirable for health.

• Physical activity -  Any bodily movement that is produced by the contraction of skeletal muscle and that substantially increases energy expenditure.

• Physical fitness -  A set of attributes that people possess or achieve that relates to the ability to perform physical activity and is comprised of skill-related, health-related, and physiological components.

• Strengthening activities -  Activities that require strenuous muscular contractions such as weight lifting, resistance training, push-ups, sit-ups, etc.

• Transportation-related activity -  Physical activity undertaken for the purpose of getting from place to place, which may include walking, jogging, biking, or any other physically active method of getting from one place to another.

• Vigorous physical activities -  These activities might include fast walking, fast bicycling, jogging, strenuous swimming or sports play, vigorous aerobic dance, or strenuous gardening. This definition is available in the Interviewer’s manual to provide clarification to respondents, but only if the interviewer is asked.

See Also

• Exercise
• Aerobic exercise
• Strength training
• Flexibility (anatomy)

Resources

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