IN THIS ISSUE Black Women Come Together to Put Their Health First Dieting Not Linked to Eating Disorders in Overweight Adults Poor Parental Eating Habits Raise Obesity Risk in Children Study Links Soft Drink Consumption to Childhood Obesity Aim for a Healthy Weight is Right on Target New NIDDK Publications on Kidney Disease Materials From Other Organizations Meeting Notes WIN NIDDK
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American Adults Remain Inactive
Three
out of four adults in the United States do not get enough physical activity,
according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). In 1998, 29 percent of adults reported no physical activity,
and only 25 percent achieved recommended activity levelsstatistics
that have changed very little since 1990. Health officials urge at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity five times a week, which can be taken in 10-minute increments, or 20 minutes of vigorous activity three times a week. Moderate exercise includes brisk walking, gardening, bowling, painting, and housework. Vigorous activity means aerobic exercise, including biking, hiking, mowing the lawn, climbing stairs, and running. Percentage of persons reporting level of leisure-time physical activity, by yearBehavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 1990-1998. It is surprising that the trends did not change at all considering all the efforts at the Federal and state levels to increase physical activity in the 1990s, comments Sandra Ham, a statistician with CDCs National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Analysts cite sedentary jobs, numerous cable channels, and the preference for driving rather than walking or biking for transportation as factors contributing to the lack of physical activity. According to Ham, most people view exercise as inconvenient. It doesnt have to be hard work. A lot of people dont realize that moderate lifestyle activitiesbeing physically active in general, rather than setting aside timeare really whats important. Moderate physical activity results in substantial health benefits, including reduced risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Teaching good exercise habits to children and adolescents could influence U.S. attitudes toward physical activity, suggests Michael Weitekamp, M.D., medical director of Pennsylvania State Universitys Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Weve got a whole generation that wasnt really active as children, he contends. If you could ingrain good habits in people in their younger years, you would have a better chance of them carrying that forward. The report is based on an analysis of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a random telephone survey by health officials in 43 states and the District of Columbia. The study was published in CDCs March 9, 2001 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), and is available on the web at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5009a3.htm. s
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