U.S.national survey data showed that grown-ups are not eating enough fruits and vegetables or getting enough regular exercise, especially white men, non-Hispanic black women, and Hispanic women, reported Judy Kruger, Ph.D., and colleagues in the April 6 issue of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that: “Among men, engaging in regular physical activity was significantly less common for non-Hispanic blacks (45.9%), Hispanics (42.5%), and A/PIs (37.5%) than for non-Hispanic whites (52.5%). Among women, regular physical activity was significantly lower among non-Hispanic blacks (36.3%) and Hispanics (42.3%) than among non-Hispanic whites (49.8%).”
To measure physical activity, respondents were asked how often they engaged in physical activities of moderate intensity (i.e., brisk walking, bicycling, vacuuming, gardening, or anything else that causes small increases in breathing or heart rate) and vigorous intensity (i.e., running, aerobics, heavy yard work, or anything else that causes large increases in breathing or heart rate) for at least 10 minutes at a time in a usual week. Respondents were classified as being regularly active if they reported engaging in moderate-intensity activity at least 30 minutes per day, 5 or more days per week, or vigorous-intensity activity at least 20 minutes per day, 3 or more days per week. Respondents were classified as insufficiently active if they reported engaging in physical activity for at least 10 minutes per week, but did not meet the requirements for regular activity. Respondents who reported no instances of physical activity of >10 minutes’ duration during a usual week were classified as inactive.
Read the whole report in full text here.
Do you encourage your patients to exercise? Do you exercise enough yourself?
** Photo by siebe
