According to the 1996 U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity
and Health, people of all ages who are generally inactive can
improve their health and well-being by becoming even moderately active
on a regular basis.
Regular physical activity that is performed on most days of the week reduces
the risk for developing or dying from some of the leading causes of illness in the United States, such as heart disease. Regular physical activity
can also improve health in the following ways:
Although research has been limited, evidence so far indicates that aspects of
the home, workplace, and community environments influence a person's level of
physical activity. For example, the availability and accessibility of attractive
stairwells, bicycle paths, walking paths, exercise facilities, and
swimming pools, as well as the overall aesthetics of an environment, may play a role in
determining the type and amount of physical activity people engage in.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report Physical
Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease,
"Encouraging more activity can be as simple as establishing walking programs at schools, work sites and in the community. Some communities have an existing infrastructure that supports physical activity, such as sidewalks and bicycle trails, and worksites, schools, and shopping areas in close proximity to residential areas. In many other areas, such community amenities need to be developed to foster walking, cycling, and other types of exercise as a regular part of daily activity."
Being physically active helps combat problems that can result from a sedentary
lifestyle, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Obesity
According to results of the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey (NHANES), an estimated 64% of U.S. adults aged 20 years and older
are classified as overweight or obese. Among U.S. adults, obesity has
doubled since 1980, increasing from 15% in 1980 to 31% in
2000, and the percentage of children and adolescents who are defined as
overweight has more than doubled since the early 1970s.
Overweight and obese adults are at increased risk for physical ailments such
as--
Diabetes
An estimated 17 million Americans have diabetes, and about one third of those
people affected are unaware of their condition. About one million new cases are
diagnosed every year in the United States. Not only is diabetes the seventh
leading cause of death among Americans, it also is the leading cause of new cases of
blindness, kidney failure, and lower extremity amputations and greatly increases
a person's risk for heart attack or stroke. Diabetes accounts for more than $98
billion in direct and indirect medical costs and lost productivity each year.
The progression of diabetes can be delayed by--
Research studies in the United States and abroad have found that lifestyle changes,
such as consistent moderate intensity physical activity and a healthy diet, may
reduce a person's risk for developing type 2 diabetes by 40% to 60%.
Heart Disease and Stroke
More than 61 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD),
including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive heart
failure, and other conditions. More than 2,600 Americans die each day of CVD.
That is an average of 1 death every 33 seconds. CVDs cost the nation an
estimated $300 billion annually, including health expenditures and lost
productivity.
Research conducted in California, Minnesota, and Rhode Island during the 1980s
demonstrated how community interventions that improve our environment are
particularly effective in reducing heart disease and stroke throughout the
entire community.
For more information on physical activity, refer to the following resources:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion (NCCDPHP)
(http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/)
NCCDPHP prevents premature death and disability from chronic diseases and
promotes healthy personal behaviors.
Additional information on physical activity and related topics can be
found in the Additional Resources section.
References
American Heart Association. 2002 heart and stroke statistical update. Dallas:
AHA; 2000.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion. National diabetes fact sheet: general
information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States 2000.
Available from URL:
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/factsheet.htm.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Center for Health
Statistics. Prevalence of overweight and obesity
among adults: United States, 1999-2002. Available from URL:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/obese/obse99.htm
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Prevalence of overweight among
children and adolescents: United States,
1999-2002. Available from URL:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/overwght99.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The President's Council on Physical
Fitness and Sports. Physical activity and health at-a-glance. A report of the
surgeon general 1996. Available from URL:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/ataglan.htm.
Humpel N, Owen N, Leslie E. Environmental factors associated with adults’
participation in physical activity, a review. Am J Prev
Med 2002;22(3):188-99.
Lefebvre RC, Lasater TM, Carleton RA, et al. Theory and delivery of health
programming in the community: the Pawtucket Heart Health Program. Prev
Med 1987;16:80-95.
Saelens BE, Sallis JF, Frank LD. Environmental correlates of walking and
cycling: findings from the transportation, urban design, and planning
literatures. Ann Behav Med, 2003; 25:80-91.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical
activity fundamental to preventing disease 2002 June 20. Available from URL:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/physicalactivity/
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