Physical activity among Asians and native Hawaiian or other Pacific islanders--50 States and the District of Columbia, 2001-2003

Abstract

Data on physical activity participation rates among Asians and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) in the United States are limited. For example, few studies have measured physical activity prevalence among the diverse Asian population, which was estimated to be 11.9 million in 2000 according to the U.S. Census and is projected to increase to 33.4 million by 2050. One of the broadly defined goals of the 2010 national health objectives is to reduce disparities in health among population groups. To determine the prevalence of recommended levels of lifestyle (i.e., nonoccupational) physical activity (e.g., combined leisure-time, household-related, and transport-related), the prevalence of physical inactivity, and the prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity among Asians and NHOPIs in the United States, CDC analyzed physical activity data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys from 2001, 2002, and 2003 for the Asian and NHOPI populations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that 38.6% of Asians and NHOPIs met recommended levels of lifestyle physical activity, compared with 45.8% of the total U.S. population, and approximately 24% were inactive during their leisure time. To increase physical activity in the Asian and NHOPI populations, state and local health departments and other organizations should adopt evidence-based strategies at the community and individual level to promote and encourage physical activity.