Estimating physical activity trends among blacks in the United States through examination of four national surveys

Physical activity is essential for overall good health and aids in the prevention and reduction of many diseases. In 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans to foster appropriate levels of physical activity at various ages of development. Despite these guidelines and the known benefit to being physically active; physical activity levels are significantly lower in Blacks, contributing to higher prevalence of poor health outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to look at four national datasets [Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)] to identify any patterns and trends that could be used to improve physical activity behavior within this population. These national datasets were used to estimate the proportion of Black adults and youth meeting national physical activity recommendations overall—stratified by age, gender and other demographic characteristics, to help identify patterns. The proportion of Black youth reporting regular physical activity ranged from 33% to 52%; and of Black adults, 27% to 52%. Physical activity was highest among men, younger age groups, highest education and income groups, and those who were employed or married. Trends were consistent across surveys. Among Black youth, physical activity decline with increasing grade level, and improvements over the past 10 years have been minimal. The percentage of Black adults achieving physical activity guidelines has improved slightly over the last ten years, but physical activity participation is still low and continues to decline with age. Trends identified from examining these national datasets can be used to inform development of physical activity interventions aimed at promoting and maintaining regular physical activity behavior among high risk subgroups across the life span.

[1]  Annemarie Koster,et al.  Employment and physical activity in the U.S. , 2011, American journal of preventive medicine.

[2]  L. Wilkins.  Correction to: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2017 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. , 2017, Circulation.

[3]  C. Macera,et al.  Self-reported physical activity among blacks: estimates from national surveys. , 2007, American journal of preventive medicine.

[4]  C. Vamos,et al.  Correlates of long-term physical activity adherence in women , 2016, Journal of sport and health science.

[5]  R. Davey,et al.  Why Are Girls Less Physically Active than Boys? Findings from the LOOK Longitudinal Study , 2016, PloS one.

[6]  M. R. Umstattd Meyer,et al.  Gender Differences in College Leisure Time Physical Activity: Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Integrated Behavioral Model , 2014, Journal of American college health : J of ACH.

[7]  K. Ethier,et al.  Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance — United States, 2017 , 2018, Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries.

[8]  G. Bennett,et al.  Physically Active, Low-Income African American Women: An Exploration of Activity Maintenance in the Context of Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Inactivity , 2014, Women & health.

[9]  C. Matthews,et al.  Sedentary and Physically Active Behavior Patterns Among Low-Income African-American and White Adults Living in the Southeastern United States , 2013, PloS one.

[10]  Connie Lim,et al.  Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 2015. , 2016, Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries.

[11]  Deborah I Thompson,et al.  Using Community Insight to Understand Physical Activity Adoption in Overweight and Obese African American and Hispanic Women , 2015, Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education.

[12]  S. Levy,et al.  Gender similarities and differences in factors associated with adolescent moderate-vigorous physical activity. , 2009, Pediatric exercise science.

[13]  P. Ralston,et al.  The Development of Health for Hearts United: A Longitudinal Church-based Intervention to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk in Mid-life and Older African Americans. , 2017, Ethnicity & disease.

[14]  V. Preedy,et al.  National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey , 2010 .

[15]  A. Becker,et al.  The Relationship Between the Social Environment and Lifestyle-Related Physical Activity in a Low-Income African American Inner-City Southern Neighborhood , 2015, Journal of Community Health.

[16]  L. Curtin,et al.  National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: estimation procedures, 2007-2010. , 2013, Vital and health statistics. Series 2, Data evaluation and methods research.

[17]  Will G Hopkins,et al.  Associations of Objectively Measured Built-Environment Attributes with Youth Moderate–Vigorous Physical Activity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis , 2015, Sports Medicine.

[18]  Rebecca E. Lee,et al.  Psychosocial factors and theory in physical activity studies in minorities. , 2015, American journal of health behavior.

[19]  Barbara E Ainsworth,et al.  Designing Culturally Relevant Physical Activity Programs for African-American Women: A Framework for Intervention Development , 2017, Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.

[20]  A. Okely,et al.  Cost effectiveness of a multi-component school-based physical activity intervention targeting adolescents: the ‘Physical Activity 4 Everyone’ cluster randomized trial , 2016, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.

[21]  M. Fornage,et al.  Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2017 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association , 2017, Circulation.

[22]  B. Daly,et al.  Gender Disparity in Structured Physical Activity and Overall Activity Level in Adolescence: Evaluation of Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data , 2012 .

[23]  M. Adams,et al.  Correlates of Physical Activity among Blacks and Whites with Arthritis. , 2015, American journal of health behavior.

[24]  Stewart G Trost,et al.  Life transitions and changing physical activity patterns in young women. , 2003, American journal of preventive medicine.