Mode of Physical Activity Participation in US Adults: A Regional Perspective.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Examine the mode of physical activity (PA) participation in United States adults by US Census region. METHODS: The study sample (N = 323,435) included adult (18 years of age and older) participants from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Participants reported meeting both aerobic and muscle strengthening activity (MSA) guidelines, the aerobic-only guideline, the MSA only guideline, or neither. RESULTS: The greatest prevalence estimate of meeting the mutually exclusive aerobic and MSA guideline was found in the West Census Region (24.3, 95% confidence interval 23.6-24.9) and the greatest prevalence estimate of meeting neither aerobic nor MSA guideline was found in the South Census Region (38.1%, 95% confidence interval 37.5-38.7). Physical and mental health were found to be positively associated with PA and non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics reported the greatest levels of meeting neither federal PA recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that mode of PA participation varies by demographics and census region in US adults. State and local health departments should communicate between and within regions and disseminate information to raise awareness of the health benefits of meeting the federal PA guidelines.