Progress Toward Elimination of Health Disparities

The following discussion highlights progress toward the elimination of health disparities. The disparities are illustrated in the Disparities Table (see Figure 22-2), which displays information about disparities among select populations for which data were available for assessment.

Of all the physical activity objectives examined, disparities were similar over time, with one exception: From 1999 to 2003, the disparity in the lack of participation in leisure-time physical activity (22-1) between high school graduates and persons with at least some college education increased. The population with at least some college had the best rate. In 2003, high school graduates had a rate of no leisure-time physical activity that was 50 to 99 percentage points higher than persons with at least some college, while the rate for those with less than a high school education was at least 100 percent higher.

The remaining objectives had similar changes from the baseline in all populations, which resulted in no change in disparities. For most objectives in this focus area, the best group rates were observed in the white non-Hispanic population, persons with at least some college education, urban dwellers, males, and adults without disabilities.

Significant gender differences were observed for several objectives. Men had a more favorable rate than women for participation in leisure-time physical activity (22-1). Boys in grades 9 through 12 had better rates of engaging in vigorous physical activity (22-7) and physical activity in physical education class (22-10). In addition, boys aged 5 to 15 years had a better rate for walking for transportation (22-14b) than did girls. Multiple programs exist that attempt to address these differences. The "Pick Your Path to Health" campaign, sponsored by the Office on Women's Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), encourages local communities to promote practical, culturally appropriate steps to wellness and targets minority women. Young women can also receive updated, science-based, plain language information sources at a website sponsored by the National Women's Health Information Center.⁹

The white non-Hispanic population had the best rates for no leisure-time physical activity (22-1) and regular physical activity (22-2 and 22-3). Persons of two or more races had the best rates for muscular strength and endurance (22-4) and flexibility (22-5). Hispanic students in grades 9 through 12 had the best rates for participation in daily physical activity in school and in physical education classes (22-9 and 22-10, respectively). However, disparities for Hispanic and black non-Hispanic populations were seen among adolescents engaging in vigorous physical activity (22-7). Television viewing (22-11) was associated with persistent disparities of 50 percent or more among Hispanic and black non-Hispanic youth, compared with the best rate.

Adults with at least some college had more favorable rates for physical activity participation (22-1 through 22-5) than persons with a high school education or less. Walking for transportation (22-14a) was less common among adults aged 18 years and older living in rural or nonmetropolitan areas than in urban areas. Adults with disabilities were more likely to report less overall activity than adults without disabilities (22-1, 22-2, and 22-3).

Initiatives to combat disparities within the realm of physical activity and fitness exist at Federal, State, and local levels in many different and innovative forms. For example, REACH 2010 (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health 2010) is a collaborative Federal initiative aimed at eliminating disparities in health status experienced by select populations.¹⁰ The VERB campaign targeted American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents and Hispanic adolescents with multicultural media messages about physical activity.¹¹ I Can Do It, You Can Do It! is an initiative supported by the HHS Office on Disability, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, the National Institutes of Health, and numerous community and nonprofit organizations to improve and evaluate the activity and nutrition of people with disabilities.¹² The National Blueprint: Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults Aged 50 and Older identifies organizations and strategies to help combat inactivity and improve the quality of life for older Americans.¹³ Through these and other programs, persisting disparities are being addressed.

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