According to an official report, nearly three-quarters of Americans do not get the minimum amount of exercise recommended by the government each week.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says adults should get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week — like chest. B. brisk walking, cycling or gardening – and doing muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week.
However, up to 28 percent of people in the United States meet these thresholds, according to a nationwide survey of more than 30,000 people age 18 and older.
The study, released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that only 47 percent of adults meet at least one exercise recommendation.
The study comes after a top official was widely criticized for downplaying the impact of exercise in the fight against obesity.
The CDC found that only about a quarter of Americans meet HHS fitness guidelines — and less than half even meet one of the two standards set by the nation’s top health authorities.
The CDC study used a 2020 National Health Interview Survey of 30,407 people from across the United States.
The researchers note that the Covid pandemic may have affected the results, as restrictions kept many away from the gym and activities that keep them in shape.
For the survey, participants self-reported their weekly activity levels. Strength training includes activities such as weight and resistance training.
Moderate physical activity can be considered any exercise that increases the body’s heart rate.
Researchers found that less than half of Americans met any guidelines.
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Only about a quarter of Americans meet both guidelines, with the CDC researchers finding that no region in the country has more than 28 percent of people who follow them.
The researchers found that urban populations were much more likely to meet the standards, with 28 percent saying so. That compares to just 16 percent for rural Americans.
Still, both numbers are extremely low, the CDC warns.
About 27 percent of Americans living in large metropolitan areas meet both guidelines, and 22 percent of those in medium and small urban areas.
This can be attributed to the condensed nature of many urban areas where gyms and other recreational activities are more easily accessible.
Urban Americans also tend to be wealthier than their rural counterparts, another factor associated with increased physical activity.
People living in America’s western region are also more likely to exercise than their peers, with 28.5 percent meeting both thresholds.
In comparison, just 24.4 percent of Northeastern Americans, 23.4 percent of Midwestern Americans, and 22 percent of Southern Americans meet both guidelines.
The sedentary lifestyle of many Americans, combined with poor dietary habits, was largely responsible for the nation’s weight crisis.
The CDC warns that more than 70 percent of the population is overweight, including 40 percent of Americans who are obese.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
