Almost Two-Thirds of Americans Meet Exercise ...(ically active compared with 67.3 percent...),Health

The 48 percent of respondents who met the Healthy People 2010 objectives included 50.7 percent of men and 47 percent of women.

The study was published in the Dec. 5 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication of the CDC.

In the BRFSS survey, moderate physical activity was assessed by asking respondents, "When you are not working, in a usual week, do you do moderate activities for at least 10 minutes at a time, such as brisk walking, bicycling, vacuuming, gardening, or anything else that causes some increase in breathing or heart rate?"

Those who answered yes were then asked, "How many days per week do you do these moderate activities for at least 10 minutes at a time?" Finally, they were asked, "On days when you do moderate activities for at least 10 minutes at a time, how much total time per day do you spend doing these activities?"

To assess participation in vigorous-intensity activities, respondents were asked, "When you are not working, in a usual week, do you do vigorous activities for at least 10 minutes at a time, such as running, aerobics, heavy yard work, or anything else that causes large increases in breathing or heart rate?"

Those who answered yes were then asked, "How many days per week do you do these vigorous activities for at least 10 minutes at a time?" Finally, they were asked, "On days when you do vigorous activities for at least 10 minutes at a time, how much total time per day do you spend doing these activities?"

More information

Here's where you can find the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

-- Robert Preidt

SOURCE: Dec. 5, 2008, Morbidity and Mortality
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