American Attitudes Toward Physical
Activity & Fitness A National Survey
President's Council on Physical Fitness
& Sports in collaboration with the Sporting Goods
Manufacturers Association
Survey Overview
From October 15 to 20, 1993, Peter
D. Hart Research Associates conducted a national telephone
survey among a representative sample of 1,018 "Less
Active" American adults age 18 and over, defined
as those who exercise vigorously less than twice a week.
In addition, a shorter interview was conducted for comparison
purposes among 1,006 "More Active" adults,
who engage in vigorous exercise at least two times a
week. The screening and interviewing process found that
Less Actives make up 43% of the overall adult population,
while More Actives represent 57% of all adults.
The purpose of the survey was to explore
the attitudes of Less Active adults toward physical
activity and physical fitness. In particular, the survey
examines Less Actives' level of interest in increasing
their physical activity, the barriers they perceive
to being active, and what kinds of information and changes
might lead them to expand their level of activity. The
survey also recorded standard demographic information,
including gender, age, income, race, and occupation.
The survey was conduced on behalf
of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports,
in collaboration with the Sporting Goods Manufacturers
Association.
Fact Sheet 1: Levels of Activity
The survey suggests that activity
levels overall are not what they should be. Fully 43%
of all adults qualify as "Less Actives," which
means that they fail to engage in vigorous exercise
even two times a week. Certain subgroups, such as women
and lower-income Americans, are represented disproportionately
in the Less Active group. More striking, however, is
the extent to which low levels of activity can be found
in all groups: young Americans as well as old, the better
educated as well as the less educated. A majority of
the Less Actives are under age 45, and 46% have attended
college. Insufficient physical activity is not confined
to pockets of our society – it is a nationwide problem.
The survey reconfirms the tremendous
value of regular vigorous exercise. While only 21% of
Less Active Americans report that they are in excellent
or above-average physical shape, a 51% majority of More
Active adults (those who exercise vigorously twice a
week or more) rate their fitness at this level. Similarly,
59% of More Actives say they are in excellent or above-average
health, which is well above Less Actives' 41% figure.
One more encouraging finding: most
Less Actives are at least somewhat physically active.
In a typical week, about four in ten Less Actives report
that they spend three hours or more doing some kind
of exercise, and a large majority say they engage in
30 minutes of light physical activity at least once
a week. Of the 11% of Less Actives who described themselves
as "not at all active," the large majority
indicate that they cannot be physically active because
of health or physical condition. There is thus a real
base level of activity -- though it is very low -- from
which to promote physical activity among the Less Actives.
Fact Sheet 2: Desire for Change
An encouraging 59% of Less Actives
say they would like to be more physically active. This
includes 68% of those under age 45, 71% of people holding
desk jobs, and 74% of adults who are 20 pounds or more
overweight. This inclination to increase activity is
not limited to those who are already somewhat active,
but is just as strong among those who are now very inactive.
A cautionary finding, however, is that only 25% of Less
Actives predict that they are certain or very likely
to increase their level of activity in the next six
months. Although the desire is there, most Less Actives
currently do not expect to expand their activity.
Less Actives, for the most part, do
not face any insurmountable obstacles to increasing
their activity. A resounding 81% report that there are
enough opportunities in their area to get the kind of
exercise they would want. Certain groups, such as members
of low-income households and African-Americans, face
greater obstacles -- unsafe streets being a significant
factor -- yet large majorities of these groups nonetheless
feel that they can get exercise. In addition, 49% of
Less Actives feel it would be easy to increase their
activity level.
The "Prime Audience" for
increased physical activity includes the 20% of Less
Actives who say they want to be more active, would find
it easy to do so, and report that they are certain or
very likely to become increasingly active in the next
six months. Members of this group tend to be younger
than average, and are particularly likely to have exercised
more regularly in the recent past. The Prime Audience
is somewhat more health conscious than are other Less
Actives, and 61% say they are well informed about what
it takes to keep fit.
Fact Sheet 3: Barriers & Incentives
to Change
Their number-one reason for not being
more active, Less Actives say, is time. In an open-ended
question, 43% identify lack of time -- and 15%
cite family responsibilities -- as barriers to increased
physical activity. The proportion who mention time is
far greater than those who volunteer a comment related
to health, lack of motivation, access to facilities,
or any other factor.
Sixty-four percent of Less Actives
agree with the statement, "I would like to exercise
more, but I just can't find the time," including
75% of baby boomers, 76% of people with desk jobs, and
76% of working women.
The single greatest motivation for
physical activity, the Less Active say, is concern for
one's health. Health-conscious adults are far more active
than are those who lack such consciousness. Nearly as
important as health is the desire for greater strength
and energy throughout daily life -- an "extremely
strong" motivation for a majority of Less Actives.
Significantly, Americans are more motivated when informed
about the benefits of exercise than when told of the
dangers of inactivity. Positive encouragement appears
to be more effective than attempting to frighten people
out of being inactive.
Fact Sheet 4: Agents of Change
The survey identifies several actors,
beyond the Less Actives themselves, who have significant
roles to play in promoting physical activity. The most
important agents of change: friends and family. For
Less Active Americans, the single most effective encouragement
for exercising more often is having a friend or relative
offer to exercise with them, which earns a +40% rating
on the encouragement index (+69% among the Prime Audience).
Verbal encouragement also produces strong motivation,
especially that from a spouse. Indeed, a spouse, boyfriend,
or girlfriend is the strongest possible positive influence
-- well above doctors -- for such key groups as the
Prime Audience and Less Actives under age 45. Perhaps
this is why Less Actives who have an active spouse are
themselves much more likely to be active.
Employers also have a role to play,
especially in the context of the time pressures cited
by many Less Actives. Majorities of those who work outside
the home say the following would certainly or probably
lead them to exercise more frequently: if their employer
paid for the cost of a fitness center (58%); if they
got time off during the workday for exercise (56%);
or if they had athletic facilities at their workplace
(55%). Working women and the Prime Audience rank these
encouragements particularly highly.
Doctors and other health professionals
can greatly increase their contribution to the nation's
physical fitness. Four in ten Less Actives identify
their doctor as the person who would have the greatest
influence on encouraging them to be more active. Unfortunately,
only 31% of Less Actives report having ever been told
by a health professional to be more active -- a mere
21% in the past two years -- one of the survey's most
disappointing findings. Among Less Actives whose doctor
has encouraged an increase in activity, 71% say they
would like to be more physically active (which is 17%
higher than among those who have not been so encouraged).
Peter D. Hart Research Associate
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