Study Shows 80 Percent of American Adults Don't Get Recommended Exercise

Study Shows 80 Percent of American Adults Don’t Get Recommended Exercise

A new study completed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 80 percent of American adults do not get the recommended amounts of exercise each week. Researchers analyzed survey data collected from more than 450,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older who were randomly phoned across all 50 states. They were asked how long they engaged in aerobic physical activity outside of their jobs and for how long.

The survey revealed that only 20.6 percent of people met the total recommended amounts of exercise – about 23 percent of all surveyed men and 18 percent of surveyed women. The U.S. government recommends adults get at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or a combination of both. Adults should also engage in strength like lifting weights or doing push-ups at least twice a week.

Physical inactivity can lead to obesity and Type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control, while exercise can help control weight and reduce the risk for developing heart disease and some cancers, while providing mental health benefits.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control