Physical Activity
and Fitness

22-1

No leisure-time physical activity

22-2

Moderate physical activity

22-3

Vigorous physical activity

22-4

Muscular strength and endurance

22-5

Flexibility

22-6

Moderate physical activity in adolescents

22-7

Vigorous physical activity in adolescents

22-8

Physical education requirement in schools

22-8a

Middle and junior high schools

22-8b

Senior high schools

22-9

Daily physical education in schools

22-10

Physical activity in physical education class

22-11

Television viewing    

22-12

School physical activity facilities

22-13

Worksite physical activity and fitness

22-14

Community walking

22-14a

Adults aged 18 years and older

22-14b

Children and adolescents aged 5 to 15 years

22-15

Community bicycling

22-15a

Adults aged 18 years and older

22-15b

Children and adolescents aged 5 to 15 years

National Data Source

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC, NCHS.

State Data Source

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

Healthy People 2000 Objective

Adapted from 1.5 (Physical Activity and Fitness).

Measure

Percent (age adjusted—see Comments).

Baseline

40 (1997).

Numerator

Number of adults aged 18 years and older who report that they never or are unable to do light or moderate physical activity for at least 20 minutes (at least 10 minutes after 1997) and that they never or are unable to do vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes (at least 10 minutes after 1997).

Denominator

Number of adults aged 18 years and older.

Population Targeted

U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data

From the 1997 National Health Interview Survey:

Ø       How often do you do VIGOROUS activities for AT LEAST 10 MINUTES that cause HEAVY sweating or LARGE increases in breathing or heart rate?

Never
Unable to do this type activity
_____ times per day/week/month/year

o        About how long do you do these vigorous activities each time?
_____ minutes/hours

Ø       How often do you do LIGHT OR MODERATE activities for AT LEAST 10 MINUTES that cause ONLY LIGHT sweating or a SLIGHT TO MODERATE increase in breathing or heart rate?

Never
Unable to do this type activity
_____ times per day/week/month/year

Ø       About how long do you do these light or moderate activities each time?

_____  minutes/hours

Expected Periodicity

Annual.

Comments

Adults are classified as not engaging in leisure time physical activity if they answer “never” or “Unable to do this type of activity” to both the vigorous and moderate physical activity questions. Responses of “over 28 times per week” to either vigorous or moderate or both sets of questions were eliminated from the Denominator.

Although the 1997 baseline reflects responses of “never” or “unable [to do physical activities] for at least 20 minutes,” the question has been changed. Future updates for this objective will use a smaller time reference of 10 minutes. Estimates are expected to decline slightly.

Data are age adjusted to the 2000 standard population. Age-adjusted percents are weighted sums of age-specific percents. For a discussion on age adjustment, see Part A, section 5.

National and State estimates are not comparable; the questions are different. Also, the national survey is administered by personal interview, and the State survey is administered by telephone. Neither survey accounts for people who report no leisure-time physical activity who may not necessarily have a sedentary lifestyle; their jobs may require regular or vigorous physical activity that is not reported in response to these questions.

This objective is measured differently from the Healthy People 2000 objective. A discussion on measuring objective 1.5 can be found in Healthy People 2000 Statistical Notes.1

See Part C for descriptions of NHIS and BRFSS and Appendix A for focus area contact information.

National Data Source

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC, NCHS.

State Data Source

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

Healthy People 2000 Objective

Adapted from 1.3 (Physical Activity and Fitness) (also 15.11 and 17.13).

Leading Health Indicator

Physical Activity.

Measure

Percent (age adjusted—see Comments).

Baseline

15 (1997).

Numerator

Number of adults aged 18 years and older who report light or moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes five or more times per week.

Denominator

Number of adults aged 18 years and older.

Population Targeted

U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data

From the 1997 National Health Interview Survey:

Ø       How often do you do LIGHT OR MODERATE activities for AT LEAST 10 MINUTES that cause ONLY LIGHT sweating or a SLIGHT TO MODERATE increase in breathing or heart rate?

Never
Unable to do this type activity
_____ times per day/week/month/year

o        About how long do you do these light or moderate activities each time?

_____  minutes/hours

Expected Periodicity

Annual.

Comments

Adults are classified as participating in light or moderate physical activity if they answer 5 to 28 times per week and 30 to 720 minutes for each time.

Data are age adjusted to the 2000 standard population. Age-adjusted percents are weighted sums of age-specific percents. For a discussion on age adjustment, see Part A, section 5.

Current national and State estimates are not comparable; the questions are different. Also, the national survey is administered by personal interview, and the State survey is administered by telephone. Neither survey accounts for people whose jobs may require regular or vigorous physical activity that is not reported in response to these questions.

This objective is measured differently from the Healthy People 2000 objective; the new questions generally produce smaller estimates of moderate physical activity. A discussion on measuring objective 1.3 can be found in Healthy People 2000 Statistical Notes.1

This objective is one of the measures used to track the Physical Activity Leading Health Indicator. See Appendix H for a complete listing.

See Part C for descriptions of NHIS and BRFSS and Appendix A for focus area contact information.

National Data Source

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC, NCHS.

State Data Source

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

Healthy People 2000 Objective

Adapted from 1.4 (Physical Activity and Fitness).

Measure

Percent (age adjusted—see Comments).

Baseline

23 (1997).

Numerator

Number of adults aged 18 years and older who report participating in vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes three or more times per week.

Denominator

Number of adults aged 18 years and older.

Population Targeted

U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data

From the 1997 National Health Interview Survey:

Ø       How often do you do VIGOROUS activities for AT LEAST 10 MINUTES that cause HEAVY sweating or LARGE increases in breathing or heart rate?

Never
Unable to do this type activity
_____ times per day/week/month/year

o        About how long do you do these vigorous activities each time?

_____  minutes/hours

Expected Periodicity

Annual.

Comments

Adults are classified as participating in vigorous physical activity if they answer 3 to 28 times per week and 20 to 720 minutes for each time.

Data are age adjusted to the 2000 standard population. Age-adjusted percents are weighted sums of age-specific percents. For a discussion on age adjustment, see Part A, section 5.

Current national and State estimates are not comparable; the questions are different. Also, the national survey is administered by personal interview, and the State survey is administered by telephone. Neither survey accounts for people whose jobs may require regular or vigorous physical activity that is not reported in response to these questions.

This objective is measured differently from the Healthy People 2000 objective; the new questions generally produce larger estimates of vigorous physical activity. A discussion on measuring objective 1.4 can be found in Healthy People 2000 Statistical Notes.1

See Part C for descriptions of NHIS and BRFSS and Appendix A for focus area contact information.

National Data Source

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC, NCHS.

State Data Source

Not identified.

Healthy People 2000 Objective

Adapted from 1.6 (Physical Activity and Fitness).

Measure

Percent (age adjusted—see Comments).

Baseline

18 (1998).

Numerator

Number of adults aged 18 years and older who report doing physical activities specifically designed to strengthen muscles at least twice a week.

Denominator

Number of adults aged 18 years and older.

Population Targeted

U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data

From the 1998 National Health Interview Survey:

National Data Source

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC, NCHS.

State Data Source

Not identified.

Healthy People 2000 Objective

Adapted from 1.6 (Physical Activity and Fitness)

Measure

Percent (age adjusted—see Comments).

Baseline

30 (1998).

Numerator

Number of adults aged 18 years and older who report doing stretching exercises in the past 2 weeks.

Denominator

Number of adults aged 18 years and older.

Population Targeted

U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data

From the 1998 National Health Interview Survey:

Ø       In the past 2 weeks, beginning Monday, (date), and ending this past Sunday, (date), have you done any of the following exercises, sports, or physically active hobbies…

[Response categories include:]

Stretching exercises?

Expected Periodicity

Periodic.

Comments

This objective is measured in the same way as the flexibility part of Healthy People 2000 objective 1.6. However, it differs from objective 1.6, which tracked ages 18 to 64 years only. A discussion of the measurement of objective 1.6 can be found in Healthy People 2000 Statistical Notes.1

Data are age adjusted to the 2000 standard population. Age-adjusted percents are weighted sums of age-specific percents. For a discussion on age adjustment, see Part A, section 5.

See Part C for descriptions of NHIS and Appendix A for focus area contact information.

National Data Source

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

State Data Source

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

Healthy People 2000 Objective

Adapted from 1.3 (Physical Activity and Fitness) (also 15.11 and 17.13).

Measure

Percent.

Baseline

27 (1999).

Numerator

Number of students in grades 9 through 12 who report participating for at least 30 minutes in physical activity that did not make them sweat or breathe hard on 5 or more of the 7 days preceding the survey.

Denominator

Number of students in grades 9 through 12.

Population Targeted

Students in grades 9 through 12.

Questions Used to Obtain the National Data

From the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System:

Ø       On how many of the past 7 days did you participate in physical activity for at least 30 minutes that did not make you sweat or breathe hard, such as fast walking, slow bicycling, skating, pushing a lawn mower, or mopping floors?

0  days
1  day
2  days
3  days
4  days
5  days
6  days
7  days

Expected Periodicity

Biennial.

Comments

This objective differs from Healthy People 2000 objective 1.3, which tracked moderate physical activity in adults only.

See Part C for a description of YRBSS and Appendix A for focus area contact information.

National Data Source

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

State Data Source

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

Healthy People 2000 Objective

Adapted from 1.4 (Physical Activity and Fitness).

Leading Health Indicator

Physical Activity.

Measure

Percent.

Baseline

65 (1999).

Numerator

Number of students in grades 9 through 12 who report exercising or participating for at least 20 minutes in physical activity that made them sweat and breathe hard on 3 or more of the 7 days preceding the survey.

Denominator

Number of students in grades 9 through 12.

Population Targeted

Students in grades 9 through 12.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data

From the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System:

Ø       On how many of the past 7 days did you exercise or participate in physical activity for at least 20 minutes that made you sweat and breathe hard, such as basketball, soccer, running, swimming laps, fast bicycling, fast dancing, or similar aerobic activities?

0  days
1  day
2  days
3  days
4  days
5  days
6  days
7  days

Expected Periodicity

Biennial.

Comments

This objective differs from Healthy People 2000 objective 1.4, which used different question wording. The former YRBSS question was: “On how many of the past 7 days did you exercise or participate in sports activities for at least 20 minutes that made you sweat and breathe hard, such as basketball, jogging, swimming laps, tennis, fast bicycling, or similar aerobic activities?”

This objective is one of the measures used to track the Physical Activity Leading Health Indicator. See Appendix H for a complete list.

See Part C for a description of YRBSS and Appendix A for focus area contact information.

22-8.

Increase the proportion of the Nation’s public and private schools that require daily physical education for all students.

22-8a.    Middle and junior high schools.

National Data Source

School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

State Data Source

School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

Healthy People 2000 Objective

Not applicable.

Measure

Percent.

Baseline

17 (1994).

Numerator

Number of public and private middle and junior high schools for which physical education (PE) is offered 5 days a week, and the number of years of required PE equals the number of grades in the school.

Denominator

Number of public and private middle and junior high schools.

Population Targeted

Public and private middle and junior high schools.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data

From the 1994 School Health Policies and Programs Study Physical Education School Questionnaire:

Ø       [Question 3] How much physical education are students required to take while attending this school?  Please count all of a student’s physical education requirements.

Number of units required:

Years
Semesters
Trimesters
Quarters
Weeks       
Carnegie units
Other (SPECIFY UNIT):

Ø       [Question 8] During required physical education courses, how many days per week do students attend class?  CHECK THE ONE BEST ANSWER (1-7): 

(1)  One day
(2)  Two days
(3)  Two days one week/ three days the next (alternating)
(4)  Three days
(5)  Four days
(6)  Five days
(7)  Differs by grade — GO ON TO NEXT QUESTION

Ø       [Question 9] How many days per week do students attend required physical education courses by grade in your school?  CHECK BOX (1-7) AND RECORD NUMBER OF DAYS FOR EACH GRADE THAT TAKES REQUIRED PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

Days per week

(1)  6th
(2)  7th
(3)  8th
(4)  9th
(5)  10th
(6)  11th
(7)  12th

Expected Periodicity

Periodic.

Comments

From question 3, the number of units (semesters, quarters, etc.) of PE that students were required to take while attending the particular school were standardized to years of required PE. If the number of years of required PE (from question 9) equaled the number of grades in that school (from another database), and if the response to question 8 was all 5 days, students were considered to be required to take PE 5 days a week for each year they attended that school. 

See Part C for a description of SHPPS and Appendix A for focus area contact information.

22-8b.    Senior high schools.

National Data Source

School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

State Data Source

School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

Healthy People 2000 Objective

Not applicable.

Measure

Percent.

Baseline

2 (1994).

Numerator

Number of public and private senior high schools for which physical education (PE) is offered 5 days a week, and the number of years of required PE equals the number of grades in the school.

Denominator

Number of public and private senior high schools.

Population Targeted

Public and private senior high schools.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data

From the 1994 School Health Policies and Programs Study school physical education questionnaire:

See Questions Used To Obtain the National Data provided with objective 22-8a.

Expected Periodicity

Periodic.

Comments

See Comments provided with objective 22-8a for more information. 

National Data Source

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

State Data Source

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

Healthy People 2000 Objective

1.8 (Physical Activity and Fitness).

Measure

Percent.

Baseline

29 (1999).

Numerator

Number of students in grades 9 through 12 who report participating in physical education classes five times per week.

Denominator

Number of students in grades 9 through 12.

Population Targeted

Students in grades 9 through 12.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data

From the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System:

Ø       In an average week when you are in school, on how many days do you go to physical education (PE) classes?

0  days
1  day
2  days
3  days
4  days
5  days

Expected Periodicity

Biennial.

Comments

See Part C for a description of YRBSS and Appendix A for focus area contact information.

National Data Source

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

State Data Source

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

Healthy People 2000 Objective

1.9 (Physical Activity and Fitness).

Measure

Percent.

Baseline

38 (1999).

Numerator

Number of students in grades 9 through 12 who report spending 21 or more minutes exercising or playing sports in physical education class three to five times a week.

Denominator

Number of students in grades 9 through 12.

Population Targeted

Students in grades 9 through 12.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data

From the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System:

Ø       In an average week when you are in school, on how many days do you go to physical education (PE) classes?

0  days
1  day
2  days
3  days
4  days
5  days

Ø       During an average physical education (PE) class, how many minutes do you spend actually exercising or playing sports?

I do not take PE
Less than 10 minutes
10 to 20 minutes
21 to 30 minutes
More than 30 minutes

Expected Periodicity

Biennial.

Comments

See Part C for a description of YRBSS and Appendix A for focus area contact information.

National Data Source

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

State Data Source

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC, NCCDPHP.

Healthy People 2000 Objective

Not applicable.

Measure

Percent.

Baseline

57 (1999).

Numerator

Number of students in grades 9 through 12 who report watching TV for 2 or fewer hours on an average school day.

Denominator

Number of students in grades 9 through 12.

Population Targeted

Students in grades 9 through 12.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data

From the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System:

Ø       On an average school day, how many hours do you watch TV?

I do not watch TV on an average school day
Less than 1 hour per day     
1 hour per day
2 hours per day
3 hours per day
4 hours per day
5 or more hours per day

Expected Periodicity

Biennial.

Comments

Students who report that they did not watch TV on an average school day or watched TV less than 1 hour per day, 1 hour per day, or 2 hours per day were classified as viewing television for 2 or fewer hours during a school day.

See Part C for a description of YRBSS and Appendix A for focus area contact information.

Comments

An operational definition could not be specified at the time of publication.

The expected national data source for this objective is the School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) Physical Education School Questionnaire, CDC, NCCDPHP, from which 2000 baseline data will be obtained.

The numerator will be the number of schools that allow children, adolescents, and adults who are not school employees to use any of the school’s physical activity or athletic facilities outside of school hours or when school is not in session; the denominator will be the number of schools with indoor physical activity or athletic facilities.

The 2000 baseline data will be obtained by the following three questions:

Ø       Outside of school hours or when school is not in session, do children or adolescents use any of this school’s physical activity or athletic facilities for…

Community-sponsored sports teams?
Community-sponsored classes or lessons, such as tennis or gymnastics?
Community-sponsored supervised “open-gym” or “free play?”

Ø       Outside of school hours or when school is not in session, do adults who are not school employees use any of this school’s physical activity or athletic facilities for...

Community-sponsored sports teams?
Community-sponsored classes or lessons, such as tennis or aerobics?
Community-sponsored supervised “open-gym?”