Characteristics of Older Adults Who Met Federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: United States, 2022.

This report presents national estimates of the percentage of adults age 65 and older who met the federal physical activity guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities during leisure time by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. Data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey were used to estimate the percentage of adults age 65 and older who met the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2018 Federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities during leisure time. Adults were considered to have met the guidelines if they met both aerobic and muscle-strengthening recommendations. Estimates are presented by age group, sex, race and Hispanic origin, education, family income, urbanization level, respondent-assessed health status, chronic conditions, disability status, severity of depression symptoms, severity of anxiety symptoms, and body mass index. Overall, 13.9% (age adjusted) of adults age 65 and older met federal physical activity guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities in 2022. Differences were seen by several sociodemographic characteristics. Men (16.9%), White non-Hispanic adults (15.2%), and those living in metropolitan areas (14.7%) were more likely to meet the guidelines. The percentage meeting the federal physical activity guidelines increased with increasing education level and family income and decreased with number of chronic conditions. Older adults who reported poor health status had the lowest percentage meeting the guidelines compared with those reporting good, very good, or excellent health. Older adults without disabilities were three times more likely to meet the federal physical activity guidelines than adults with disabilities (15.9% compared with 5.0%, respectively). Older adults with no depression or anxiety symptoms were more likely to meet the guidelines than those with mild symptoms or moderate or severe symptoms.

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

ImportanceApproximately 80% of US adults and adolescents are insufficiently active. Physical activity fosters normal growth and development and can make people feel, function, and sleep better and reduce risk of many chronic diseases.ObjectiveTo summarize key guidelines in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition (PAG).Process and Evidence SynthesisThe 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee conducted a systematic review of the science supporting physical activity and health. The committee addressed 38 questions and 104 subquestions and graded the evidence based on consistency and quality of the research. Evidence graded as strong or moderate was the basis of the key guidelines. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) based the PAG on the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report.RecommendationsThe PAG provides information and guidance on the types and amounts of physical activity to improve a variety of health outcomes for multiple population groups. Preschool-aged children (3 through 5 years) should be physically active throughout the day to enhance growth and development. Children and adolescents aged 6 through 17 years should do 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. Adults should do at least 150 minutes to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes to 150 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. They should also do muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week. Older adults should do multicomponent physical activity that includes balance training as well as aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. Pregnant and postpartum women should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week. Adults with chronic conditions or disabilities, who are able, should follow the key guidelines for adults and do both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. Recommendations emphasize that moving more and sitting less will benefit nearly everyone. Individuals performing the least physical activity benefit most by even modest increases in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Additional benefits occur with more physical activity. Both aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity are beneficial.Conclusions and RelevanceThe Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, provides information and guidance on the types and amounts of physical activity that provide substantial health benefits. Health professionals and policy makers should facilitate awareness of the guidelines and promote the health benefits of physical activity and support efforts to implement programs, practices, and policies to facilitate increased physical activity and to improve the health of the US population.

An examination of physical activity guidelines and health-related quality of life among U.S. older adults

Introduction: Latino cancer survivors engage in less physical activity than non-Latino cancer survivors. Previous research has shown that higher acculturation is associated with higher leisure-time physical activity among foreign-born Latinos. However, there is limited research on the association of acculturation with leisure-time aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity among foreign-born Latino cancer survivors, for whom the acculturation and physical activity association may be influenced by lifestyle changes related to cancer survivorship. Therefore, we examined whether acculturation was associated with aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity among Latino cancer survivors. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from the 2008-2015 National Health Interview Survey (n=1,293). Participants were individuals that self-identified as Latino, ≥20 years old, and not pregnant. Cancer diagnosis was assessed by the survey variable, “Ever told by a doctor you have cancer?” Nativity (US-born, foreign-born) and years living in the US (<10 years living in US, ≥10 years living in US) were used as proxies of acculturation. Aerobic physical activity was measured based on self-reported minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic physical activity engaged in per week, then categorized into none, some activity, and meeting the aerobic activity guideline. Muscle-strengthening activity was measured based on self-reported frequency of muscle-strengthening activity per week, then categorized into meeting and not meeting the muscle-strengthening guideline. Cutoffs for meeting the aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines were based on the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association of acculturation with aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity among Latino cancer survivors. Models were adjusted for age, sex, education, and Hispanic subgroup. Results: Approximately 33% of the sample reported meeting the aerobic activity guideline, and 15% reported meeting the muscle-strengthening guideline. Foreign-born cancer survivors living in the US <10 years were significantly less likely to meet the aerobic physical activity guideline (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.26, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.10-0.67) and to engage in some aerobic activity (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.16-0.89), compared with US-born Latino cancer survivors. There was no significant association between acculturation and muscle-strengthening activity. Conclusion: Recent Latino immigrants with a history of cancer are less likely to engage in aerobic physical activity compared with their US-born counterparts. Research is warranted on the barriers to aerobic physical activity among recent Latino immigrant cancer survivors. Citation Format: Shreya Desai, Mariana Vazquez, Daphne C Hernandez, Lorraine R Reitzel, Rosenda Murillo. Lower acculturation is associated with lower aerobic physical activity among recent Latino immigrant cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr D102.

Cardiorespiratory fitness: an independent and additive marker of risk stratification and health outcomes.

ObjectiveTo determine the association between recommended physical activity according to the 2018 physical activity guidelines for Americans and all cause and cause specific mortality using a nationally representative sample of...

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (Guidelines) advises older adults to be as active as possible. Yet, despite the well documented benefits of physical activity just 12.8% of those ages 65 and older meet the Guidelines. To address this, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) developed a Midcourse Report focused on effective strategies to improve older adult physical activity behaviors. The first step in this process was a systematic literature review. A literature review team was contracted to examine the evidence on key settings and effective behavioral intervention strategies, as well as effective policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) approaches, to improve physical activity among older adults. The PSE search employed an equity-centered framework adapted to researching PSE approaches for improving physical activity outcomes in older adults. Sixteen thousand eight hundred and eighty-three titles and abstracts were screened, and 734 full articles were reviewed for inclusion. Of those, 64 original research articles were included for the final review to answer two questions, one (plus 5 sub-questions) focused on Settings/Strategies literature (45 studies) and one (plus 2 sub-questions) focused on PSE literature (19 studies). The literature review process identified key settings and evidence-based strategies to support older adults in becoming more physically active, and provides a foundation for the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: Implementation Strategies for Older Adults. More research is needed to address how factors related to equity and psychosocial constructs influence physical activity behaviors among older adults.

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, second edition recommends that older adults do multicomponent physical activity, which includes balance training in addition to aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. The authors estimated the prevalence of U.S. older adults (age ≥65years) who do balance activities and meet the aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines. The authors analyzed data on 1,012 respondents to the 2019 FallStyles survey, a nationwide web-based panel survey. Approximately four in 10 respondents (40.7%) reported doing balance activities on ≥1day/week, 34.0% on ≥2days/week, and 25.3% on ≥3days/week. Prevalence differed by sex, education level, income level, census region, body mass index category, and meeting the aerobic and/or muscle-strengthening guidelines. The combined prevalence of participation in balance activities and meeting aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines ranged from 12.0% for ≥3days/week to 15.8% for ≥1day/week. Opportunities exist to introduce and increase participation in balance and multicomponent activities by older adults.

The 2008 Physical Activity (PA) Guidelines for Americans (PAGA) include aerobic and muscle strengthening activities (MSA). The PAGA make no recommendations for stretching. PURPOSE: Relate muscle strength and flexibility with musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) incurred while participating in PA. METHODS: An orthopedic examination was conducted on 918 community-dwelling women in the WIN Study. Lower limb muscle strength (hip abductors/external rotators, knee flexors/extensors) and flexibility (lumbar spine, hamstrings, gastrocnemius) were assessed with a hand-held dynamometer and electronic inclinometer, respectively. MSI and weekly minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were self-reported for up to 3 years. MSI was reported if it interrupted daily routine for ≥2 days or if seen by a health care provider. Logistic regression related MSI to muscle strength and flexibility using the lowest quintile as the referent and controlling for previous injury, age, and MVPA. RESULTS: Data on 900 women were analyzed (M age = 52.6 ±12.5; M wt = 73.8 ±17.3 kg; M BMI=27.5 ±6.2). 242 (26.9%) of 900 women reported a MSI during PA and 694 (77.1%) reported a previous injury. Univariate regression models suggest hamstring flexibility (OR=1.6; 95% CI=1.1 to 2.3) and previous history of MSI (OR=2.6; 95% CI = 1.7 to 3.9) relate to increased risk of MSI. The lowest quintile for strength in any individual muscle did not predict MSI but being in the bottom quintile for both hip abductors and external rotators increased risk of MSI (OR=1.7; 95% CI=1.0 to 2.8). Being in the bottom quintile for both knee flexors and extensors did not increase risk of MSI (OR=1.3; 95% CI=0.8 to 2.0). A multivariate model for hamstring flexibility and hip abductor/external rotator strength controlling for age, previous MSI, and MVPA min/week reveals that women with low hamstring flexibility (OR=1.6; 95% CI=1.1 to 2.3) or hip abductor and external rotator strength (OR=1.9; 95% CI=1.1 to 3.3) were at increased MSI risk. CONCLUSION: Women with low hip muscle strength or hamstring flexibility are more likely to report a MSI but increased risk is most highly related to having had a previous MSI. Hamstring stretching may be advisable for women even though there are no recommendations for flexibility activities in the PAGA. Supported by NIH Grant R01 AR052459-05

Aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities are related to morbidities and mortality. Resistance exercise/strength training items are included in national surveys, but the manner in which muscle-strengthening activity is queried varies among these surveys. The purpose of this study was to use different self-report measures to examine the prevalence of meeting the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans regarding muscle-strengthening activities among women. We surveyed 606 community-dwelling women at 4 points in time across a 1.5- to 3-year time period to determine whether the respondents met the national physical activity guidelines for performing muscle-strengthening activities ≥ 2 days per week. Results were consistent across time but depended on the manner in which the question was asked. If asked to reflect over the past month or a general question about the typical number of days engaged, approximately 40% of women reported engaging in ≥ 2 days per week of resistance exercise/strength training. However, when reports were obtained weekly for 13 weeks, only approximately 18% of respondents met the guidelines. Results indicate that the timing and nature of questioning can substantially influence the self-reported prevalence of muscle-strengthening physical activities for community-dwelling women.

Trend and Prevalence Estimates Based on the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

Meeting the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Among U.S. Youth

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, second edition, recommends older adults participate in ≥150minutes per week of moderate-intensity equivalent aerobic activity and ≥2days per week of muscle-strengthening activity. We estimated prevalence and trends of meeting the guidelines among US adults aged ≥65years from 1998 to 2018. Using the 1998-2018 National Health Interview Survey, we estimated the prevalence of meeting aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and combined physical activity guidelines stratified by age group, sex, race and ethnicity, and education level. Within age groups, we calculated prevalence differences by sociodemographic categories. Prevalence of meeting each guideline increased for all age groups and most sociodemographic subgroups. The increased magnitude of meeting the combined guideline from 1998-2000 to 2016-2018 differed across levels of educational attainment for most age groups. Despite increasing over time, the prevalence among older adults of meeting physical activity guidelines remains low (range for combined guideline: 7.2%-17.2%).

Objective: To examine aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity disparities among college cis-gender and transgender students adjusting for other socio-demographic characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation). Methods: National Collegiate Health Assessment (NCHA) data collected between Fall 2015 and Fall 2018 were analyzed using chi-square tests for independence and odds ratios. Results: Cis-gender women were significantly less likely to meet aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity recommendations compared to cisgender men. Transgender men and transgender women were less likely to meet aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity recommendations compared to cisgender peers. Differences were also revealed among transgender individuals, with transgender women more and less likely to meet aerobic and muscle-strengthening recommendations respectively compared to transgender men. Conclusions: Considerable aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity participation disparities exist between cisgender and transgender emerging adults. The unique constraints that transgender college students experience in relation to both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity participation require further examination to ensure the provision of equitable opportunities to be physically active.