Muscle-strengthening Guidelines Research Articles

Why don't women engage in muscle strength exercise? An integrative review.

Women are 'at-risk' population for failing to meet muscle strengthening guidelines. Health benefits specific to this exercise mode include maintenance of muscle mass, which is associated with reduced risk of chronic disease and falls. Of significance is the progressive decline in muscle strength exercise participation in women aged 35-54 in Australia. This period is critical for maintaining muscle strength as it establishes foundations for older women's engagement. This integrative review examined available evidence regarding factors influencing muscle strength exercise participation, specifically in women aged 35-54. Seven databases were searched. Study inclusion criteria were: (1) peer reviewed, (2) English language, (3) sample populations of healthy female adults or general adult sample population differentiating females from males, (4) mean age between 35 and 54 years, (5) focused on muscle strength exercise and measured as the primary outcome factors of participation in muscle strength exercise. Five of 1895 studies met inclusion criteria. Five key factors were associated with participation in muscle strength exercise of women aged 35-54 years: perceived time constraints; knowledge and education; modality and intensity; social support and behavioural strategies. Focused education on strength exercise and guidelines, plus initiatives and strategies that suit the needs of this cohort, are necessary to achieve health and wellbeing benefits. Responsive approaches by health professionals to these women's circumstances can potentially address current low participation levels. SO WHAT?: Creating conditions where health professionals respect a woman's exercise preferences can positively impact these women's musculoskeletal health into older age.

S12-5 Physical activity trends among second-level Active School Flag programme 2019-2021

Abstract Purpose Schools in the second level Active School Flag (ASF) programme are required to carry out a whole school survey to capture the student voice within the programme. Data from these surveys can be used to measure changes in physical activity behaviours at the school level. This presentation outlines the changes in physical activity levels over a three-year period from students in ASF schools. Methods From five schools involved in the ASF programme from 2019 to 2021, students reported frequencies of 60 minutes of aerobic physical activity, muscle strengthening, and active transport. Students were grouped into inactive (0-2 days), somewhat active (3-4 days), active (5-6 days) and daily active (7 days), as well as meeting muscle strengthening guidelines (3+ days/week) and not meeting (0 – 2 days). Furthermore, only students who lived within 5km of their school were included in the active transport analyses, where active transport was a combination of walking and cycling. Contingency tables were produced, and logistic regressions were used to analyse changes between 2019 (reference), 2020 (COVID-19 lockdown), and 2021, with age as confounders and stratified by gender. Results There was an 80% response rate across the five schools. Of the 7646 students (male 33%, female 65%, other 2%), minimal changes in ‘daily active’ students were observed from 2019 (12%), 2020 (13%), to 2021 (12%), whereas ‘inactive’ students decreased from 25% in 2019 to 23% in both 2020 and 2021. Rates of meeting muscle-strengthening guidelines remained steady over the years for both males and females. Active transport increased from 55% in 2019 to 66% in 2021 for males and 50% in 2019, 63% in 2020, to 65% in 2021 for females. In addition to these overall trends, idiosyncratic analyses of the schools revealed different trends from being in the ASF programme. Conclusions There were high level of responses from the whole school survey. The ASF intervention contains adaptable components due to the complex adaptive sub-systems and may shed light on the differences in physical activity over time. Furthermore, COVID-19 restrictions may have affected the program-related results.

Evaluating the Science to Inform the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report

Evaluating the Science to Inform the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report

Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviors in 2021 and Changes from 2019 to 2021 Among High School Students - Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2021.

The fall of 2021 was the first school semester to begin with widespread in-person learning since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Understanding dietary and physical activity behaviors of adolescents during this time can provide insight into potential health equity gaps and programmatic needs in schools and communities. This report uses data from the 2021 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted among a nationally representative sample of U.S. public and private school students in grades 9-12 to update estimates of dietary and physical activity behaviors among U.S. high school students overall and by sex and race and ethnicity. In addition, 2-year comparisons (2019 versus 2021) of these behaviors were examined. In 2021, daily consumption of fruits, vegetables, and breakfast during the past 7 days remained low and decreased overall with specific disparities by sex and race and ethnicity from 2019 to 2021. The overall prevalence of students attending physical education classes daily, exercising to strengthen muscles on ≥3 days/week (i.e., met the guideline for muscle-strengthening activity), and playing on at least one sports team decreased from 2019 to 2021; whereas being physically active for ≥60 minutes/day on all 7 days (i.e., met the guideline for aerobic activity) and meeting both aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines remained low but did not change. These findings underscore the need for strategies to increase healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors both in the recovery phase of COVID-19 and longer term.

Prevalence of Meeting Aerobic, Muscle-Strengthening, and Combined Physical Activity Guidelines During Leisure Time Among Adults, by Rural-Urban Classification and Region — United States, 2020

The healthful effects of physical activity on a multitude of physical and mental health outcomes are well documented (1). Despite promising increases in the percentage of U.S. adults meeting aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines (guidelines)* (1) during leisure time in nearly all demographic and regional subgroups 1998-2018 (2,3), differences by rurality and U.S. Census Bureau region (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West), persist (4). Before 2020, analyses of rural-urban differences were dichotomized into nonmetropolitan (rural) versus metropolitan (urban) areas; however, in 2020 a four-category rural-urban variable† to classify rural-urban status was included in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) public-use dataset. NHIS 2020 data were used to conduct multivariate logistic regression analyses by rural-urban status and U.S. Census Bureau region of the prevalence of meeting the aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines during leisure time among adults aged ≥18 years, controlling for demographic characteristics. Prevalence of meeting the aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines was consistently the lowest in Nonmetropolitan counties (38.2%, 21.1%, and 16.1%, respectively) and highest in the West region (52.1%, 35.3%, and 28.5%, respectively). Regardless of rural-urban classification and region, no more than 28% of adults met combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines. Adults in the most rural category were significantly less likely to meet aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and combined guidelines than were adults in each of the three other categories (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] range = 0.68-0.89). In addition, adults in medium and small metropolitan counties were less likely to meet guidelines than were adults in the two most urban categories (aOR range = 0.85-0.89). Adults in the Northeast, Midwest, and South U.S. Census Bureau regions were less likely to meet guidelines than were adults in the West region (aOR range = 0.75-0.82). These analyses identify geographic disparities in leisure-time physical activity where focused population-level intervention efforts could help reduce or eliminate the consequent disparities in chronic conditions (e.g., cardiovascular diseases) and the resulting mortality (5,6).

Understanding the Impact of Move Your Way® Campaign Exposure on Key Physical Activity Outcomes

Introduction: The Move Your Way® campaign was developed to encourage physical activity contemplators to get active. A pilot test of campaign implementation was conducted and evaluated in eight communities between March and October 2020. Methods: A web-based, cross-sectional survey of adults collected pilot campaign outcome data after campaign implementation. Differences in outcomes between exposed and unexposed groups across the communities were compared. Results: A total of n = 5,140 responded to the survey. Across eight communities, those who reported campaign exposure had 7.2 (95% CI, 6.1-8.6) greater odds of being aware of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (Guidelines) compared to unexposed respondents. Additionally, they had greater odds of identifying the correct aerobic and muscle-strengthening dosages and had 1.4 (95% CI, 1.1-1.6) greater odds of reporting meeting both the aerobic and muscle-strengthening Guidelines. Discussion: In this pilot evaluation, reported exposure to Move Your Way is associated with higher odds of being aware of the Guidelines, knowing recommended dosages, likelihood of becoming more active in the future, higher self-efficacy, making a recent physical activity behavior change, and higher physical activity levels. The Move Your Way campaign can be used in communities to promote physical activity.

Aerobic, Muscle-Strengthening, and Flexibility Physical Activity in Relation to All-Cause and Cancer Mortality: A Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study in Korea

ObjectivesWe examined the independent associations of aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and flexibility physical activity with all-cause and cancer mortality. We also compared the mortality risk between participants meeting national guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities and those who do not meet any of the guidelines.MethodsThis analysis included 35,794 participants (aged 19–80 years) in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2007–2013 who agreed to mortality follow-up through December 31, 2019 (mean follow-up: 8.1 years). Levels of aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and flexibility physical activity were self-reported at baseline. Participants engaging in ≥10 MET-hr/wk of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity and ≥2 d/wk of muscle-strengthening activity were considered as meeting the guidelines. Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsAerobic activity was inversely associated with both all-cause (≥20 vs. 0 MET-hr/wk: HR [95% CI]: 0.79 [0.70–0.89]) and cancer mortality (0.83 [0.68–1.00]), adjusting for other activity types. Muscle-strengthening (≥5 vs. 0 d/wk: 0.86 [0.71–1.04]) and flexibility activities (≥5 vs. 0 d/wk: 0.84 [0.73–0.96]) were inversely associated with all-cause mortality but were not associated with cancer mortality. Compared to participants who did not meet any guidelines (54%), those meeting both aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines (12%) had the lowest all-cause mortality (0.75 [0.62, 0.92]) but the interaction between two activity types was not statistically significant.ConclusionsOur data suggest that engaging in higher levels of aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and flexibility physical activity are all independently associated with lower all-cause mortality.Funding SourcesThis work was supported by Korea University and National Research Foundation of Korea.

Increases in Muscle-Strengthening Activities Among Latinas in Seamos Saludables.

Only 17% of Latinas meet national physical activity (PA) guidelines for both moderate-to-vigorous aerobic and muscle-strengthening PA. Additional health benefits are derived from the combination of aerobic and muscle-strengthening PA (vs. aerobic alone), yet there is paucity in research on muscle-strengthening activity in Latinas. The aim of this study was to examine changes in muscle-strengthening activity from baseline to 6 and 12 months in Seamos Saludables, a 12-month PA randomized controlled trial for Latinas. A secondary data analysis was conducted among 131 Latinas ages 18-65 years, who were randomized to either a PA Intervention or a Wellness Control. Self-reported muscle-strengthening exercise was measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months via adapted muscle-strengthening questions from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. There was a 16-minute/week difference in median minute/week of muscle-strengthening activity between Intervention and Wellness at 6 months (SE = 7.91, p = .04) and 45-minute/week difference at 12 months (SE = 25.80, p = .06) adjusting for baseline. Significantly more PA Intervention participants met muscle-strengthening guidelines of 2 or more days/week at 6 months versus Wellness Control participants (odds ratio [OR] = 4.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.03, 17.84]). Results from the current study showed that Latinas engaged in muscle-strengthening activity in an intervention that emphasized primarily aerobic PA outcomes, suggesting they may be interested in engaging in muscle-strengthening activities. Future interventions targeting both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity could achieve greater health improvements and help more Latinas reach the full national PA guidelines.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier. NCT01583140.

U.S. Older Adults' Participation in Balance Activities.

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.

Associations between Circulating Inflammatory Biomarkers and Indicators of Muscle Health in Older Men and Women.

Systemic inflammation is believed to contribute to declining muscle health during aging. The present study aims to examine associations between indicators of muscle health and pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in older men and women, while also considering the impacts of physical activity and protein intake. An assessment of skeletal muscle index (SMI) by bioelectrical impedance analysis, handgrip strength, and 5-sit-to-stand time, using standardized procedures, was conducted in a population of older men (n = 90) and women (n = 148) aged 65–70 years. The inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α were assessed in blood samples. Data were analyzed and stratified according to biological sex using multiple linear regression models. In older women, SMI was inversely associated with the pro-inflammatory markers CRP (β = −0.372; p < 0.05), fibrinogen (β = −0.376; p < 0.05), and IL-6 (β = −0.369; p < 0.05). Importantly, these associations were independent of abdominal adiposity (waist circumference), protein intake, physical activity level, as well as any adherence to muscle strengthening guidelines (≥2 sessions/week). In contrast, no corresponding associations were observed in men. In conclusion, our findings indicate the detrimental influence of a pro-inflammatory environment on muscle health regardless of important lifestyle-related factors in older women. However, the lack of such associations in older men highlights the importance of considering biological sex when examining the complex interaction between the systemic inflammatory environment and muscle health.

Trends in Meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines: Muscle-Strengthening Alone and Combined With Aerobic Activity, United States, 1998-2018.

The National Health Interview Survey is unique among US federal surveillance systems with over 20 years of consistent assessment of muscle-strengthening and aerobic activity. The authors examined trends in the prevalence of US adults who met the muscle-strengthening (2 or more days per week) and the combined muscle-strengthening and aerobic physical activity (at least 150min/wk of moderate-intensity equivalent activity) guidelines from 1998 to 2018. The 1998-2018 National Health Interview Survey data were analyzed. Age-adjusted prevalence of meeting the muscle-strengthening and combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines by selected respondent characteristics were estimated for each year and linear and higher-order trends were assessed. From 1998 to 2018, prevalence of meeting the muscle-strengthening guideline increased from 17.7% to 27.6%, and meeting the combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines increased from 14.4% to 24.0%. All subgroups demonstrated significant increases in meeting both guideline measures over this period although trends varied across the 21 years; increasing trends were more commonly sustained in the second decade of monitoring. Although increasing trends in prevalence of meeting the muscle-strengthening and combined guidelines are encouraging, current prevalence estimates remain low. Opportunities exist for the continued promotion of muscle-strengthening activity using evidence-based approaches.

Trends in Aerobic and Muscle-Strengthening Physical Activity by Race/Ethnicity Across Income Levels Among US Adults, 1998-2018.

Although disparities in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) participation by race/ethnicity and income are known, the combined association of these characteristics with LTPA participation is less understood. This study aims to describe trends and determine whether racial/ethnic differences in adult physical activity by income level have changed over the past 2decades. The authors estimated LTPA participation (outcomes: any aerobic activity, meeting the aerobic activity guideline, meeting the muscle-strengthening guideline, and meeting the combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines) among adults ≥18 years by race/ethnicity across income levels using 1998-2018 National Health Interview Survey data in 3-year aggregates. They also tested for trends, prevalence differences, and difference in differences using logistic regression. LTPA participation increased from 1998-2000 to 2016-2018 for all outcomes for non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic adults at all income levels. Disparities narrowed for some groups but persisted between white and racial/ethnic minority groups across income levels for engaging in any aerobic activity and meeting the aerobic guideline (0.2-8.8percentage point difference in differences). Disparities in meeting the muscle-strengthening and combined guidelines were less common. Opportunities exist to ensure that adults, particularly members of lower income racial/ethnic minority groups, have support to help them participate in LTPA.

Factors associated with change and stability in adherence to muscle-strengthening guidelines among young Australian adults: A longitudinal study

ObjectivesThe 2014 Australian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines (Adults) recommend muscle-strengthening activities ≥2 days/week. This study aimed to identify factors associated with 5-year change and stability in adherence to these guidelines. DesignTwo adult follow-ups of the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health (CDAH) Study. Participants (n = 1510) were 26–36 years (CDAH-1, 2004–06) and 31–41 years (CDAH-2, 2009–11). MethodsInformation on muscle-strengthening activities, sociodemographics, health, physical activity and sedentary behaviour was collected. Participants reporting muscle-strengthening activities ≥2 days/week ‘met guidelines’, with change and stability categorised as ‘persistent adherence’, ‘increasing adherence’, ‘decreasing adherence’ and ‘persistent non-adherence’. Differences in sociodemographic, health and behavioural factors were analysed using log multinomial regression. ResultsBetween 15–21% of women (CDAH-1: 14.5%, 95% confidence interval = 12.5–16.9; CDAH-2: 20.7%, 95% confidence interval = 18.3–23.4) and ~21% of men (CDAH-1: 22.2%, 95% confidence interval = 19.0–26.0; CDAH-2: 21.0%, 95% confidence interval = 17.8–24.7) met muscle-strengthening guidelines, but only 8.5% (95% confidence interval = 7.2–10.1) of participants were persistently adherent. Remaining in or moving from a major city, CDAH-1 weight status, cumulative self-rated health and vigorous physical activity were positively associated with persistent adherence (relative risk range = 1.51–3.92), while female gender, becoming partnered and having children at any timepoint were negatively associated with persistent adherence (relative risk range = 0.38–0.58). ConclusionsAdherence – particularly persistent adherence – to muscle-strengthening guidelines in this sample was low. Gender, marital status, weight status, BMI, self-rated health, urban-rural status, parental status, physical activity and sedentary behaviour were associated with adherence, and should be considered in intervention development to maximise effectiveness.

Reasoned Action Approach Correlates of Physical Activity Among African American Men Living With HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Physical activity (PA) is associated with a reduced incidence of chronic diseases. However, little is known about the predictors of PA among African American men living with HIV. We report secondary analyses examining the strength of the relationships between the reasoned action approach constructs, attitude, subjective norm, descriptive norm, and self-efficacy and intention to exercise and self-reported adherence to Department of Health and Human Services PA guidelines using baseline data from a trial of a PA intervention with 302 African American men, between 40 and 88 years of age (M = 53.9; SD = 7.2) living with HIV. Multiple regression revealed that attitude, subjective norm, and self-efficacy were positively associated with intention. Logistic regression revealed higher odds of meeting PA guidelines as self-efficacy increased. Self-efficacy and descriptive norm predicted meeting the aerobic guideline. Self-efficacy predicted meeting the muscle-strengthening guideline. Interventions targeting reasoned action approach variables may contribute to efforts to improve PA among African American men living with HIV.

Perspective: Pragmatic Exercise Recommendations for Older Adults: The Case for Emphasizing Resistance Training.

Optimal health benefits from exercise are achieved by meeting both aerobic and muscle strengthening guidelines, however, most older adults (OAs) do not exercise and the majority of those who do only perform one type of exercise. A pragmatic solution to this problem may be emphasizing a single exercise strategy that maximizes health benefits. The loss of muscle mass and strength at an accelerated rate are hallmarks of aging that, without intervention, eventually lead to physical disability and loss of independence. Additionally, OAs are at risk of developing several chronic diseases. As such, participating in activities that can maintain or increase muscle mass and strength, as well as decrease chronic disease risk, is essential for healthy aging. Unfortunately, there is a widely held belief that adaptations to aerobic and resistance exercise are independent of each other, requiring the participation of both types of exercise to achieve optimal health. However, we argue that this assertion is incorrect, and we discuss crossover adaptations of both aerobic and resistance exercise. Aerobic exercise can increase muscle mass and strength, though not consistently and may be limited to exercise that overloads a particular muscle group, such as stationary bicycling. In contrast, resistance exercise is effective at maintaining muscle health with increasing age, and also has significant effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, type 2 diabetes (T2D), cancer, and mortality. We posit that resistance exercise is the most effective standalone exercise strategy for improving overall health in OAs and should be emphasized in future guidelines.

Abstract D102: Lower acculturation is associated with lower aerobic physical activity among recent Latino immigrant cancer survivors

Abstract 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 (&amp;lt;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 &amp;lt;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.

Physical activity types among US adults with mobility disability, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2017

BackgroundThe Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, second edition, recommend that all adults participate in moderate-intensity equivalent aerobic physical activity at least 150–300 min/week for substantial health benefits and muscle-strengthening activities involving all major muscle groups 2 or more days a week. The prevalence of the general population meeting the Guidelines and the types of physical activity in which they engage have been described elsewhere. Similar descriptions are lacking for individuals with mobility disability whose physical activity profiles may differ from the general population. ObjectiveThis study examined patterns of aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity among US adults with mobility disability. MethodsWe used 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 66,635 adults with mobility disability. We estimated the percentage who engaged in any aerobic physical activity, met the aerobic and/or muscle-strengthening guidelines, and who participated in specific activities. ResultsLess than half (45.2%) of US adults with mobility disability reported engaging in aerobic physical activity, and 39.5% met one or both components of the physical activity guidelines. Walking was the most commonly reported activity type (34.0%). ConclusionsWalking is a common activity type among adults with mobility disability. Efforts to make walking or wheelchair rolling a safe, viable option are important to helping decrease barriers that may limit the ability of those with mobility disability to engage in walking or other physical activity types.

Trends in Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines Among Urban and Rural Dwelling Adults - United States, 2008-2017.

Since the release of the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (https://health.gov/paguidelines/2008/pdf/paguide.pdf), the age-adjusted percentage of adults meeting the combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines increased from 18.2% to 24.3% in 2017 (1). Trends in urban and rural areas, across demographic subgroups, and among subgroups within urban and rural areas have not been reported. CDC analyzed 2008-2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data to examine trends in the age-standardized prevalence of meeting physical activity guidelines among adults aged ≥18 years living in urban and rural areas. Among urban and rural residents, prevalence increased from 19.4% to 25.3% and from 13.3% to 19.6%, respectively. Nationally, all demographic subgroups and regions experienced increases over this period; increases for several groups were not consistent year-to-year. Among urban residents, the prevalence was higher during 2016-2017 than during 2008-2009 for all demographic subgroups and regions. During the same period, prevalence was higher across all rural-dwelling subgroups except Hispanics, adults with a college education, and those living in the South U.S. Census region. Urban and rural communities can implement evidence-based approaches, including improved community design, improved access to indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, social support programs, and community-wide campaigns to make physical activity the safe and easy choice for persons of all ages and abilities (2-4). Incorporating culturally appropriate strategies into local programs might help address differences across subgroups.

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

The relationship of physical activity to mental health: A 2015 behavioral risk factor surveillance system data analysis

IntroductionAvailable literature has repeatedly ascertained the inverse relationship of physical activity to mental health. Engaging in regular physical activity decreases symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress in a dose-responsive manner. MethodsCross-sectional, national data from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were analyzed to establish the relationship between physical activity and days of poor mental health. The association between physical activity and days of poor mental health was assessed by multiple linear regression using SAS. ResultsFindings support the assumption of an inverse dose-response relationship between physical activity levels and self-reported days of poor mental health. Individuals who engage in higher levels of physical activity reported significantly fewer days of poor mental health when compared to those who reported low or no physical activity (e.g. −2.23, 95%CI (−2.31, −2.15)) for highly active vs. inactive individuals (unadjusted model)). Furthermore, individuals who only met the guidelines for aerobic exercise reported significantly fewer days of poor mental health than those who only met the muscle strengthening guidelines (−0.85 (95% CI: −0.98, −0.73)). LimitationsDue to the cross-sectional study design, the direction of the relationship is unknown and reverse causation is possible. ConclusionHigher physical activity levels were associated with fewer self-reported days of poor mental health, which reiterates the important association between physical activity and mental health with national data. The findings of this study could prove to be valuable for developing interventions aimed at improving mental health. Nonetheless, several research gaps persist that warrant further empirical inquiry.