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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Limitations on the use of a single screening question to measure sedentary behavior
C A Macera1, S A Ham, D A Jones
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Objectives:
This study explored the limitations of identifying sedentary individuals via an existing screening question in a state-based surveillance system.
Methods:
A national sample (n = 7529) of adults, selected by random-digit dialing between November 1999 and May 2000, responded about participation in leisure-time physical activity.
Results:
Of those who initially reported no leisure-time physical activity (25%), 85% were engaging in at least some activity, and 20% were engaging in enough moderate- or vigorous-intensity activity to meet health-related recommendations.
Conclusions:
Public health programs that use only 1 screening question to identify sedentary behavior may not be able to target physical activity messages effectively, especially if physical activity is defined to include a broad range of activities beyond sports.
