Abstract 15213: Physical Activity Engagement Among African Americans, African Immigrants, Afro-Caribbeans, and Non-Hispanic White Participants in the 2010-2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

Abstract

Introduction: Physical inactivity rates are increasing, with higher rates among non-Hispanic Black adults compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. However, a comparison of physical activity (PA) engagement across Black Ethnic subgroups in the U.S. has yet to be documented. The purpose of this study was to examine PA engagement rates among African American, African immigrant, and Afro-Caribbean adults compared with White adults. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that significant differences in adherence to PA recommendations across ethnic groups, with lower adherence to recommendations among the Black Ethnic subgroups compared with their White counterparts. Methods: We included data from non-Hispanic White, African American, Afro-Caribbean, and African immigrant adults from the 2010-2018 National Health Interview Survey in these analyses. Using generalized linear models, we compared levels of PA [meeting the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommendations] by race/ethnic group adjusting for age and sex. Results: Data from 202,273 adults (mean age 48 years; 31% college/graduate degree; 52% female; 32% with obesity) were included. Among the total sample 49.6% of participants met the MVPA recommendations, while 50.4% did not. Unadjusted pooled analysis across the 9-year period, showed that a majority of White participants (52%) adhered to the MVPA guidelines, compared to only 42% of African Americans, 41% of Afro-Caribbeans, and 47% of African immigrants (all p s<0.01). Similarly, in adjusted models, higher levels of PA were seen among White adults (52% adhering to MVPA guidelines), compared with African American (41%), Afro-Caribbean (41%), and African immigrant adults (42%) ( p s<0.01) (Table). Conclusions: Higher levels of inactivity are seen across Black subgroups in the U.S. compared with their White peers, likely contributing to higher disease burden, highlighting the importance of focused interventions within these groups.