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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Increase the proportion of adults who do enough aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity — PA‑05 Infographic

This objective is a Leading Health Indicator (LHI). Learn about LHIs.

Status: Little or no detectable change

  Little or no detectable change

Most Recent Data:
25.3 percent (2022) *

Target:
29.7 percent  *

Desired Direction:
Increase desired

Baseline:
25.2 percent of adults aged 18 years and over met the guidelines for aerobic physical activity and muscle-strengthening activity during their leisure time in 2020  *

* Age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population.

Regular physical activity is one of the most important things people can do to improve their health.  Active people generally live longer and are at lower risk for serious health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some cancers. There are age-related disparities in the amount of physical activity people do during their free time — and participation declines with age. Understanding the different barriers to physical activity that adults, including older adults, face is key to delivering effective and equitable interventions. Designing communities to support physical activity can benefit people of all ages, while group interactions like physical activity classes can increase social support for physical activity among older adults.

In 2020, 25.2 percent of adults aged 18 years and over met the guidelines for aerobic physical activity and muscle-strengthening activity during their leisure time. *

Data Source:  National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC/NCHS

Disparities in physical activity rates by age group: Highest/lowest rate * ‡

In 2020, adults aged 65 years and over had the lowest group rate of meeting the current federal Physical Activity Guidelines for aerobic physical activity and muscle-strengthening activity during their leisure time (12.8 percent). Adults aged 18–44 years (reference group) had the highest group rate (32.2 percent).

The rate of meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines among adults aged 18–44 years was 2.5 times the rate among adults aged 65 years and over (maximal rate ratio). The difference between the highest and lowest group rates was 19.4 percentage points (maximal rate difference).

Learn about how we calculate disparities data.

Disparities in physical activity rates by age group: All groups * ‡

In 2020, adults aged 18–44 years had the highest group rate of meeting the current federal Physical Activity Guidelines for aerobic physical activity and muscle-strengthening activity during their leisure time (32.2 percent).

  • The highest group rate was 57.3 percent higher than the rate of meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines among adults aged 45–64 years.
  • The highest group rate was 2.5 times the rate of meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines among adults aged 65 years and over.

Percentage of adults who meet the Physical Activity Guidelines, 2020 *

32.2% Adults aged 18–44 years
20.5% Adults aged 45–64 years
12.8% Adults aged 65 years and over

Find data for additional demographic groups.