A new CDC report finds that just a quarter of Americans get the minimum recommended amount of exercise every week… Are you one of them?
- Fewer than 28% of Americans meet HHS weekly fitness goals, CDC reports
- Of the two targets set by the authorities, less than half the population has reached.
- Sedentary lifestyles led by many Americans play a role in obesity crisis
According to official reports, nearly three-quarters of Americans aren’t getting the minimum weekly amount of physical activity recommended by the government.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends that adults do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking, cycling, or gardening) per week and do muscle-strengthening activities at least two days per week. said it should be done.
However, up to 28% of people in the United States meet these criteria, according to a national survey of more than 30,000 people age 18 and older nationwide.
Only 47% of adults meet at least one exercise recommendation, according to a study released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The study comes at a time when leading officials have been widely criticized for downplaying the benefits of exercise in the fight against obesity.
The CDC found that only about a quarter of Americans meet the fitness guidelines set by HHS.
The 2020 National Health Interview Survey of 30,407 people nationwide was used in the CDC study.
Researchers note that the Covid pandemic may have influenced the findings, as lockdowns kept many people away from the gym and activities to stay in shape.
In the survey, participants self-reported their weekly activity levels. Strength training includes activities such as weights and resistance exercises.
Moderate physical activity can be considered any exercise that increases the body’s heart rate.
Researchers found that less than half of Americans meet one of two guidelines.
Only about a quarter of Americans meet both guidelines, but CDC researchers note that more than 28% of people in any part of the country do not follow the guidelines.
Researchers found that urban populations were much more likely to meet the criteria, with 28% reporting so. This compares to just 16% of rural Americans.
Still, both of those numbers are extremely low, warns the CDC.
About 27% of Americans living in metropolitan areas meet both guidelines, and 22% of Americans living in small and medium-sized metropolitan areas meet this guideline.
This may be due to the more accessible gyms and other recreational activities and the compressed nature of many metropolitan areas.
Also, urban Americans are typically wealthier than rural Americans, another factor associated with more movement.
People living in the American West are also more likely to exercise than their peers, with 28.5% meeting both thresholds.
By comparison, only 24.4% of Northeast residents, 23.4% of Midwesterners, and 22% of Southern Americans meet both guidelines.
The sedentary lifestyles of many Americans, combined with poor eating habits, are largely responsible for the nation’s weight crisis.
The CDC warns that over 70% of the population is overweight, including 40% of Americans who suffer from obesity.
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