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Highlights in Minority Health
September 25th, 2004
| September 25 is
Family Health and Fitness Day |
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Regular physical activity substantially reduces the
risk of dying of coronary heart disease, the nation's leading cause
of death, and decreases the risk for stroke, colon cancer, diabetes,
and high blood pressure. It also helps to control weight;
contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints; reduces falls
among older adults; helps to relieve the pain of arthritis; reduces
symptoms of anxiety and depression; and is associated with fewer
hospitalizations, physician visits, and medications. Physical
activity need not be strenuous to be beneficial; people of all ages
benefit from participating in regular, moderate-intensity physical
activity, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking five or more times a
week. |
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Despite the proven benefits of physical activity,
more than 50% of American adults do not get enough physical activity
to provide health benefits. Twenty-five percent of adults are not
active at all in their leisure time. Activity decreases with age and
is less common among women than men and among those with lower
income and less education. More than a third of young people in
grades 9–12 do not regularly engage in vigorous-intensity physical
activity. Daily participation in high school physical education
classes dropped from 42% in 1991 to 32% in 2001. Furthermore, there
are racial and ethnic differences in physical activity rates,
particularly among women. |
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In 2003, Hispanics were least likely to report
participating in any physical activity in the past month, while
whites were the most likely to report leisure time physical activity
in the past month (whites: 79.1%; Hispanics/Latinos: 67.9%; blacks:
70.1%; other: 75.6%; multiracial: 75.0%). |
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For More Information |
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National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
(NCCDPHP) |
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Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (DNPA) |
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Physical Activity |
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Promoting Physical Activity: A Guide for Community Action |
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National heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) |
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Guide to Physical Activity |
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