Exercise and Fitness

Exercise and fitness are integral components of health for both men and women. The benefits of exercise are well documented. Regular participation reduces the risk of premature death, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure and is important for building and maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and joints. Regular exercise is tied to mental health, including improved symptoms associated with depression and anxiety and overall improved mood. Among adolescents, participation in physical activities and sports even promotes social well-being. Youths who participate in sports are less likely to smoke and use drugs and are more likely to stay in school, have good conduct, and high academic achievement. Physical activity programs also teach, among other valued characteristics, teamwork, self-discipline, and leadership.

Lack of exercise or physical activity, combined with a poor diet, contributes to the conditions of being overweight and obese. Today the federal government estimates, using the body mass index (BMI), that two-thirds of Americans are overweight and a third are obese. These conditions account for more than 100,000 annual premature deaths in the United States. Increasing rates of obesity are observed in all U.S. states, in both sexes, and across all age groups, races, and educational levels. Although rates of overweight persons are higher for men (57 percent vs. 43 percent women), rates of obesity are significantly higher for women (54 percent vs. 46 percent men).

The surgeon general's report on physical activity and health lays out exercise guidelines for the public. It recommends that children and adolescents engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week, preferably daily, and adults engage in at least 30 minutes. Examples of moderate physical activity include walking, hiking, and yoga. Examples of vigorous physical activity include jogging, bicycling, and most competitive sports. Although greater health benefits can be achieved with longer duration and more vigorous activity, even moderate activity levels can lead to improved health and quality of life.

Despite common knowledge that exercise is good for one's health, most Americans do not regularly exercise. More than 60 percent of American adults are not physically active on a regular basis, and 25 percent of all adults are not active at all. Physical inactivity is more prevalent among women (compared with men), blacks and Hispanics (compared with whites), and individuals of lower socioeconomic status (SES) (compared with those of higher SES). Physical activity also declines with age, declining dramatically during adolescence. Similar levels of inactivity are observed in American youths. Only about 50 percent of U.S. young people, ages 12 to 21, regularly participate in vigorous physical activity, while 14 percent report no recent vigorous or light-to-moderate physical activity. Inactivity is higher among females (compared with males) and among black and Hispanic females (compared with white females). Positive experience with physical activity at a young age is important because it instills the foundation for regular exercise habits throughout life. Physical activity in childhood is a strong predictor of adult lifestyle.

Social structural factors, individual-level variables, and gender socialization can account for varying levels of exercise participation. Social environments play a key role in encouraging or discouraging exercise. Community design centered around the automobile discourages walking and bicycling. Many communities do not adequately provide safe, accessible, and affordable public facilities such as recreation centers and parks. These safety issues notably affect women and young children. Additionally, societal changes in technology—such as the widespread accessibility of television, computer games, and the Internet— promote sedentary lifestyles. Larger institutional decisions also affect exercise opportunities. Across America, states and school districts are reducing the amount of time students spend in physical education (PE) classes—an irony because some report cards are now indicating students' BMI.

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