FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July10, 2012
Contact: Lulu Todorov (215.825.8202 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
STUDY LOOKS AT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG ADULTS IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
PHILADELPHIA – Many view summer as an opportunity to increase outdoor activity by taking advantage of the warm weather. To mark the season, researchers at Public Health Management Corporation’s Community Health Data Base (CHDB) are releasing data that examine the physical activity habits of adults 18 and older in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Using data from CHDB’s 2010 Household Health Survey, researchers found that in Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) 39.6% of adults exercise less than three times per week (defined as physically inactive), representing nearly 120,000 adults in our region. In addition, three in five adults in SEPA (60.5%) are overweight or obese, representing approximately 1.8 million adults.
“We know there are numerous benefits to regular physical activity,” says CHDB associate Sarah Ingerman. “However, our data show that not all adults in Southeastern Pennsylvania are exercising regularly.” According to Ingerman, about 53% of US adults do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity despite the growing body of evidence about its benefits, and more than one-third of US adults (35.7%) are obese.1 Obesity has increased dramatically among American adults in the last 20 years, a rise that has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.2
“To combat the national upward trend in obesity, the CDC recommends that individuals should aim to engage in some form of physical activity at least three times a week along with eating a healthier diet,” says Ingerman, citing guidelines from the US Preventive Services Task Force.3 But CHDB’s data on adults in Southeastern Pennsylvania show that many adults are not getting the recommended weekly exercise.
Demographic Characteristics among Adults in Southeastern Pennsylvania
• About two-fifths of adults living in Philadelphia (41.8%) exercise less than three times per week, followed by Delaware (40.1%), Montgomery (39.8%), Bucks (38.6%) and Chester (35.3%) Counties.
• Women (41.1%) are more likely to exercise less than three times per week than men (38.4%).
• Almost half of all Latino adults (48.9%) exercise less than three times per week, making this the most physically inactive group compared with Black (43.3%), Asian (38.6%), and White (38.4%) adults.
• As age increases, the percentage of adults who exercise less than three times per week increases; 35.1% of adults ages 18 to 39, 38.4% of adults ages 40 to 49, 40.9% of adults ages 50 to 59, 43.6% of adults ages 60 to 74, and 49.4% of adults ages 75 and older in Southeastern Pennsylvania are considered physically inactive.
• Almost half of all adults living below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (46.8%) exercise less than three times per week, compared with 38.2% of adults living at or above the poverty level.5
• As educational attainment increases, the percentage of adults who exercise less than three times per week decreases. About half of adults (54.3%) with less than a high school education exercise less than three times per week compared with 42.9% of adults with a high school education, 38.3% of adults with some college education, 36.8% of adults who have completed college education, and 34.1% of adults with post-college education.
To access the full findings on physical activity among adults in Southeastern Pennsylvania, contact Sarah Ingerman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 267.350.7695.
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). US Physical Activity Statistics, 2008. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/stats/index.htm
2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Prevalence of Obesity in the United States, 2009-2010. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db82.pdf
3US Preventive Services Task Force. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Recommendation statement. 2008. Available at: http://www.health.gov/PAGuidelines/
4McNeill L, Kreuter M, Subramanian S. Social environment and physical activity: A review of concepts and evidence. Social Science and Medicine 2006; 63:1011-1022.
5Poverty level is calculated based on family size and income. For example, a family of four with an annual income of less than $33,075 in 2009 was considered living below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.
About CHDB
Public Health Management Corporation’s Community Health Data Base Household Health Survey is one of the largest regional health surveys in the country. The Pew Charitable Trusts, William Penn Foundation, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, United Way of North Penn, CIGNA Foundation, Green Tree Community Health Foundation, Philadelphia Foundation, North Penn Community Health Foundation, the Thomas Scattergood Foundation and over 350 local agencies from the health, government, nonprofit and academic sectors help to support CHDB. To view previous data news releases, please click here. For more information, or to access key findings from previous years, please visit www.chdbdata.org.
About PHMC
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. PHMC uses best practices to improve community health through direct service, partnership, innovation, policy, research, technical assistance and a prepared workforce. PHMC has served the region since 1972. For more information on PHMC, visit www.phmc.org.
