Health Status > Health Indicators
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Activity
Limitations and Disabilities |
Although there are many different ways to
define a disability, one common guideline is
whether a person is able to perform common
activities—such as walking up stairs, standing or
sitting for several hours at a time, grasping small
objects, or carrying items such as groceries—
without assistance. In 2005, almost 14 percent of
the U.S. population reported having at least one
condition that limited their ability to perform
one or more of these common activities. Women
were more likely to report being limited in their
activities than men (15.1 versus 12.5 percent).
Among women with at least one activity limitation,
the conditions that caused specific activity
limitations varied by age. Activity limitations
caused by heart problems were most common
among women over 75 years (18.7 percent), and
least common among women under 45 years
(4.6 percent). Older women were also more likely
to report limitations due to arthritis: 37.3 percent
of women 75 years or older and 35.3 percent of
those aged 65–74 years. Conversely, limitations
caused by depression, anxiety, or emotional
problems were most common among women
under 45 years (21.0 percent), and back or neck
problems were most common among those aged
45–64 years (26.1 percent) followed by 18- to
44-year-olds (23.1 percent).
In 2005, the percentage of women reporting at
least one activity limitation varied by race and
ethnicity (data not shown). Non-Hispanic White
and non-Hispanic Black women were most likely
to report at least one limitation (16.1 percent),
while Asians were least likely (4.9 percent).
Eleven percent of Hispanic women reported at
least one activity limitation.
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VERTICAL BAR CHART: Selected Conditions Causing Activity Limitations in Women Aged 18 and Older with at
Least One Limitation, by Age, 2005
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