Moderate physical activity patterns of minority women: the Cross-Cultural Activity Participation Study

Using data from 12 days of detailed physical activity records (PA records), we analyzed the physical activity patterns of 141 African American and Native American women, ages 40 and older, enrolled in the Cross-Cultural Activity Participation Study. PA records were completed every other month for three consecutive 4-day periods. The proportion of women who met the 1993 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine recommendation to accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity during most days of the week (at least 3 days of the 4-day periods) ranged from 63% to 70%. Nearly one third of women met the recommendation for more than one 4-day period. On days when subjects accumulated at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, time spent in moderate activity was 112 minutes/day. Most women performed household chores (95%, median = 24 minutes/day), walking for exercise (87%, median = 30 minutes/day), occupational (65%, median = 37 minutes/day), child care (53%, median = 32 minutes/day), and lawn and garden activities (51%, median = 43 minutes/day). Fewer than 25% reported conditioning and sports activities. In general, more Native Americans than African Americans were active in moderate activities. In conclusion, definitions used to characterize regular physical activity should be consistent among studies, and physical activity surveys among women should include occupation-related and home-related activities.