Originally posted on Televox website 10/28/15 —
“The CDC recently released January-March 2015 data in support of ongoing research to track leisure-time aerobic activity among U.S. adults, estimating the percentage of adults who meet the 2008 federal guidelines for aerobic activity based on household interviews. For January-March 2015, 47.4% of U.S. adults meet the guidelines.”
According to the CDC, the 2008 federal guidelines recommend that “for substantial health benefits, adults perform at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. The 2008 guidelines state that aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes and preferably should be spread throughout the week.”
These guidelines have been applied to leisure-time data as far back as 1997, allowing us to see how this measure has trended over time. Though the early 2015 data shows a slight step back from the peak activity levels of 2012, the overall trend shows that January-March 2015 is up approximately six percentage points over the initial 1997 measurement.
While this is certainly a positive trend, the healthcare community is still challenged by how to inspire the 53% of adults who do NOT meet the guidelines to engage in higher levels of exercise and aerobic activity. Do you have the resources to communicate the health and wellness benefits of increased exercise to your patients? Click HERE to learn how many healthcare organizations are cost-effectively and efficiently engaging patients on a personal level to communicate the importance of increased aerobic activity.