The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “National Health Interview Survey” has found that more people are hitting the road! When over 20,000 adults (excluding those unable to walk) were asked to recall how much they had walked in the previous seven days, the proportion who said they went on a 10 minute walk at least once a week increased to 62% in 2010, up from 56% in 2005 with increases across all races, ages and regions. The South showed the biggest increase in walking adults, to 57% from 49% in 2005. The Northeast showed the smallest increase, to 66% from 64%.
Federal guidelines recommend that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (like brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (like running) each week. According to the survey, the proportion of people who met federal guidelines for overall aerobic exercise also grew, to 48 percent in 2010 from 42 percent in 2005.
So this is progress, but Americans have lots of room for improvement. Less than half of adults are getting enough activity to enjoy substantial health benefits. Suggestion: keep walking!
