Important Facts for Physical Activity: Adult Prevalence

Definition

Among adults, physical activity recommendations include 30 minutes of moderate intensity activities 5 or more days of the week OR 20 minutes of vigorous intensity activities 3 or more days of the week.

Numerator

Number of adults meeting physical activity recommendations from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Denominator

Number of adults from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Data Interpretation Issues

Data from the BRFSS survey should be considered representative of all non-institutionalized adults in households with telephones. Data were collected using a random sample of all possible telephone numbers. Prior to analysis, data were weighted to adjust for probability of selection of the household and the randomly selected adult and to represent the population distribution of adults by sex, age group, and area of residence. As with all surveys, some error results from sampling (i.e. collecting information from only a subset of the entire population), non-response (e.g., refusal to participate in the survey or to answer specific questions) and measurement (e.g., social desirability or recall bias). Error was minimized by use of strict calling protocols (up to 15 calls were made to each randomly selected household over day, evening, and weekend calling periods), good questionnaire design, standardization of interviewer behavior, interviewer training, and frequent, on-site interviewer monitoring and supervision.

Why Is This Important?

Physical activity among adults has numerous benefits, including: reducing risk of heart disease and stroke, improving physical fitness, bone health and mental health, preventing high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, prediabetes and diabetes, maintaining health weight and increasing mobility. Among older adults, physical activity in crucial in preventing falls.

Other Objectives

New Mexico's Community Health Status Indicators

How Are We Doing?

Since 2001, the percentage of adults in New Mexico who meet physical activity recommendations has remained static, which is similar to the trend in the US.

How Do We Compare With U.S.?

Compared to the US, a higher percentage of New Mexico adults report meeting physical activity recommendations.

Evidence-based Practices

To increase physical activity using informational approaches, the Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommends community-wide campaigns and point-of-decision prompts. To increase physical activity using behavioral or social approaches, the Task Force recommends school-based physical education, individually-adapted health behavior change programs, and social support interventions in community settings. To increase physical activity using environmental or policy approaches, the Task Force recommends creation of or enhanced access to places for physical activity combined with informational outreach activities, and point-of-decision prompts. For more information, please see the Guide to Community Preventive SErvices: Waht Works to Promote Health? Chapter 2, Physical Activity, http://www.thecommunityguide.org/library/book/index.html.

Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, New Mexico Department of Health, Public Health Division, 5301 Central Ave. NE Rm. 800, Albuquerque, NM 87108, Telephone: (505) 841-5840. For inquiries, contact the Medical Director/Epidemiologist, Susan Baum, MD, MPH (email: susan.baum@state.nm.us).
The information provided above is from the New Mexico Department of Health's NM-IBIS web site (http://ibis.health.state.nm.us). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: "Retrieved Sat, 25 May 2013 23:19:11 from New Mexico Department of Health, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web site: http://ibis.health.state.nm.us".

Content updated: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:14:00 MDT