Figure 1: Adults Meeting Recommended Physical Activity Level

Figure 2: Meeting Physical Activity Levels by Age, Race/Ethnicity, Gender, Income and Education

Figure 3: Percent of Youth Meeting Physical Activity Level Recommendations

Figures:  
• Figure 1: Adults Meeting Recommended Physical Activity Level  – 
• Figure 2: Meeting Physical Activity Levels by Age, Race/Ethnicity, Gender, Income and Education  – 
• Figure 3: Percent of Youth Meeting Physical Activity Level Recommendations

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Percent of Adults 18+ Who Meet Recommended Level of Moderate Physical Activity, King County An adult has met the recommended level of physical activity if he or she reports having at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least 5 days per week, or at least 20 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity at least 3 days a week.

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

On average, for years 2003, 2005 and 2006, 55.4% of King County adults reported meeting the recommended level of physical activity. Since 2001, the first year this question was asked on the survey reported here, the percent of adults meeting physical activity recommendations has not changed (some data not shown). The percentage of adults who met the recommended level of physical activity was lowest in South Region and highest in Seattle. No significant differences occurred between other areas.

In 2007, 23.0% of Americans, nationwide, reported that they had not participated in any physical activity in the preceding month. This compares with 17.6% in Washington State and 15.9% in King County (data not shown) Persons ages 18 to 24 were more likely than those over the age of 44 to meet the recommended level of physical activity. 57.7% of whites met the recommended level of physical activity. This percentage is higher than any other race/ethnicity group except Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders. African Americans, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asians and Hispanic/Latinos were less likely to meet recommendations. Men and women met the recommended level of moderate/vigorous physical activity in equal proportions.

The likelihood of meeting physical activity recommendations increased with income. 60.4% of those with incomes of $50,000 or more met recommendations, compared to 47.5% of those with incomes less than $15,000. As education increased, so did the likelihood that recommended levels of physical activity were met. 59.4% of college graduates met recommended levels while only 38.9% of those without a high school degree met the standard.

Physical activity recommendations for youth are at least 60 minutes of activity on 5 or more days per week.
In 2006, 39.1% of youth in grades 8, 10, and 12 met the guidelines for physical activity. Seattle youth were least likely to meet these recommendations. Youth in East Region were more likely to meet physical activity recommendations than youth in other regions except North Region. Nationally, 35.8% of youth in grades 9 through 12 met recommended levels of physical activity in 2005 (data not shown). In 2006 in King County, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade males (45.6%) were more likely to meet physical activity recommendations than females (32.2%) (data not shown). Asian (29.1%), Hispanic/Latino (29.9%), and multiracial (35.3%) youth were least likely to meet recommendations for physical activity. White (43.2%) youth were more likely than King County overall to meet recommendations. African American (38.9%), American Indian/Alaska Native (42.6%) and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (39.0%) youth were similar to King County overall (data not shown).

Data Source and Limitations

Data on adult physical activity were contributed by Communities Count (www.communitiescount.org) and  are from the 2007 Washington State and national Behavioral Risk Factor

Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS is a random telephone interview survey of non-institutionalized adults ages 18 and older that has been conducted in King County every year since 1987. Starting in 2003, the BRFSS was administered in English and Spanish. The question on physical activity level (how long and how many times per week) has been included since 2001 and was asked again in 2003, 2005, and 2006. The question on any physical activity in the previous month is asked every year. 

 

 Local data on youth physical activity and weight are from the 2006 Washington State Healthy Youth Survey. National data are from the 2005 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

 

 

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