Metropolitan Area Physical Activity Statistics
This section shows tables of physical activity statistics for
metropolitan areas. Statistics are available for recommended levels of
lifestyle activity (combined leisure-time, household-related, and
transportation-related physical activity) in 2001 and 2002, leisure-time
activity in 2000 through 2006, and walking for exercise in 2000 only.
Metropolitan area physical activity statistics were computed from
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data that were
collected each year beginning in 2000. Leisure-time physical activity
statistics from 2002 to 2007 are the same as those released by
Selected
Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends from the Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System (SMART BRFSS). Metropolitan areas were reported
with survey samples of at least 500 adults who answered questions about
physical activity. Many, but not all, of the largest metropolitan areas
in each state were reported. Leisure-time physical activity statistics
were reported for 64 metropolitan areas in 2000, 72 metropolitan areas
in 2001, and 98 metropolitan areas in 2002. Lifestyle physical activity
prevalence statistics were reported for 31 metropolitan areas in 2002,
because only 18 states included these physical activity questions on
their state surveys. Leisure-time physical activity statistics were
reported for 105 metropolitan areas in 2003, 134 metropolitan areas in
2004, 153 metropolitan areas in 2005, and 145 metropolitan areas in
2006. For more information, please see the
BRFSS Web site.
Physical activity statistics are available for two different methods of
measuring physical activity behaviors: leisure-time activity and lifestyle
activity (combined leisure-time, household-related, and
transportation-related physical activity). The BRFSS used leisure-time
physical activity questions to obtain detailed information about sports,
recreation, and exercise in 2000, and had used these same survey questions
since 1984. National trend statistics from these questions are available in
the2001 MMWR publication,
Physical
Activity Trends — United States, 1990–1998. In addition, one
question that assessed overall leisure-time activity and inactivity has
been used each year since 1986. In the 2001 BRFSS, new questions asked
about lifestyle activity using a set of questions that inquired about
leisure-time, household-related, and transportation-related physical
activity. Statistics from the leisure-time and lifestyle questions should
not be compared because these questions measured different behaviors.
Additional information about this question change is available in the 2003 MMWR publication,
Prevalence
of Physical Activity, Including Lifestyle Activities Among Adults — United
States, 2000–2001.
Metropolitan areas are defined as single counties or groups of counties
that contain population centers of 10,000 persons or larger. Every 10
years, the Office of Management and Budget revises the definitions of
how counties are included in metropolitan areas based on current
population characteristics. Metropolitan areas can be expanded by the
addition of counties, or modified by splitting adjacent metropolitan
areas along different geographic boundaries. Direct comparisons of
statistics for metropolitan areas that are based on different geographic
definitions are not recommended. Physical activity statistics in 2000
and 2001 used 1990 metropolitan area definitions that were last revised
on June 30, 1999. The 2002-2006 statistics used the 2000 metropolitan
area definitions that were published in
OMB
Bulletin 04-03* (PDF-659k) in June 2003. Additional information about
changes in metropolitan area definitions is available from the
U.S. Census Bureau.
Physical Activity Statistics by Metropolitan Area
- Leisure-Time Physical Activity Prevalence Statistics by Metropolitan Area - 2006 (PDF-116k)
- Physical Activity Prevalence Statistics by Metropolitan Area - 2005 (PDF-136k)
- Leisure-Time Physical Activity Prevalence Statistics by Metropolitan Area - 2005 (PDF-62k)
- Leisure-Time Physical Activity Prevalence Statistics by Metropolitan Area - 2004 (PDF-96k)
- Leisure-Time Physical Activity Prevalence Statistics by Metropolitan Area - 2003 (PDF-82k)
- Physical Activity Prevalence Statistics by Metropolitan Area - 2003 (PDF-155k)
- Physical Activity Prevalence Statistics by Metropolitan Area - 2002 (PDF-50k)
- Physical Activity Prevalence Statistics by Metropolitan Area - 2001 (PDF-90k)
- Leisure-Time Physical Activity Prevalence Statistics by Metropolitan Area - 2002 (PDF-63k)
- Leisure-Time Physical Activity Prevalence Statistics by Metropolitan Area - 2001 (PDF-60k)
- Leisure-Time Physical Activity Prevalence Statistics by Metropolitan Area - 2000 (PDF-87k)
- Walking for Exercise Prevalence Statistics by Metropolitan Area - 2000 (PDF-57k)
Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.
* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
Page last updated: June 23, 2008
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion