Declining rates of physical activity in the United States: what are the contributors?
- PMID: 15760296
- DOI: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.26.021304.144437
Declining rates of physical activity in the United States: what are the contributors?
Abstract
This review describes current patterns and long-term trends (up to 50 years when possible) related to (a) physical activity, (b) employment and occupation, (c) travel behavior, (d) land use, and (e) related behaviors (e.g., television watching). On the basis of available data, the following trends were observed according to type of physical activity: relatively stable or slightly increasing levels of leisure-time physical activity, declining work-related activity, declining transportation activity, declining activity in the home, and increasing sedentary activity. These result in an overall trend of declining total physical activity. Large differences were noted in the rates of walking for transportation across metropolitan statistical areas. A strong linear increase existed in vehicle miles traveled per person over the past half century, coupled with a strong and consistent trend toward Americans living in suburbs. Although it is difficult to precisely quantify owing to the lack of long-term data, it is apparent that a combination of changes to the built environment and increases in the proportion of the population engaging in sedentary activities put the majority of the American population at high risk of physical inactivity.
Similar articles
-
The contribution of travel-related urban zones, cycling and pedestrian networks and green space to commuting physical activity among adults - a cross-sectional population-based study using geographical information systems.BMC Public Health. 2016 Aug 11;16(1):760. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3264-x. BMC Public Health. 2016. PMID: 27516181 Free PMC article.
-
Time trends of physical activity and television viewing time in Brazil: 2006-2012.Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014 Aug 15;11:101. doi: 10.1186/s12966-014-0101-4. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014. PMID: 25124462 Free PMC article.
-
Television watching and other sedentary behaviors in relation to risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus in women.JAMA. 2003 Apr 9;289(14):1785-91. doi: 10.1001/jama.289.14.1785. JAMA. 2003. PMID: 12684356
-
Environmental and policy interventions to promote physical activity.Am J Prev Med. 1998 Nov;15(4):379-97. doi: 10.1016/s0749-3797(98)00076-2. Am J Prev Med. 1998. PMID: 9838979 Review.
-
The role of the built environment in promoting movement and physical activity across the lifespan: Implications for public health.Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2021 Jan-Feb;64:33-40. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2020.12.009. Epub 2021 Jan 9. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2021. PMID: 33428966 Review.
Cited by
-
A study of the combined effects of physical activity and air pollution on mortality in elderly urban residents: the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Cohort.Environ Health Perspect. 2015 Jun;123(6):557-63. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1408698. Epub 2015 Jan 27. Environ Health Perspect. 2015. PMID: 25625237 Free PMC article.
-
Adolescent physical activity and screen time: associations with the physical home environment.Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2010 Nov 15;7:82. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-7-82. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2010. PMID: 21078167 Free PMC article.
-
The Effect of Body Build and BMI on Aerobic Test Performance in School Children (10-15 Years).J Sports Sci Med. 2006 Dec 15;5(4):699-706. eCollection 2006. J Sports Sci Med. 2006. PMID: 24357967 Free PMC article.
-
Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of WalkIT Arizona: A factorial randomized trial testing adaptive goals and financial reinforcement to increase walking across higher and lower walkable neighborhoods.Contemp Clin Trials. 2019 Jun;81:87-101. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2019.05.001. Epub 2019 May 4. Contemp Clin Trials. 2019. PMID: 31063868 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Gender differences and occupational factors for the risk of obesity in the Italian working population.BMC Public Health. 2020 May 16;20(1):706. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-08817-z. BMC Public Health. 2020. PMID: 32416721 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical
Miscellaneous