Disparities in adherence to physical activity guidelines among US adults: A population-based study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Exercise Science
• Health Disparities

Background:

• National guidelines recommend aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity for US adults.
• Current adherence rates and associated factors remain critical public health concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine adherence to physical activity guidelines among US adults.
• To identify sociodemographic and health factors linked to nonadherence.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 2022 National Health Interview Survey data (n=26,494).
• Defined adherence as meeting aerobic (≥150 min moderate or ≥75 min vigorous/week) and muscle-strengthening (≥2 days/week) guidelines.
• Utilized multivariable logistic regression and Shapley Additive Explanations to identify key factors.

Main Results:

• Only 24.3% of US adults met both aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines.
• Seventeen factors were significantly associated with nonadherence.
• Older age, lower education, and lower income were primary determinants of nonadherence, with adherence as low as 6.5% in high-risk groups.

Conclusions:

• Physical activity levels in US adults fall short of public health targets.
• Significant disparities in adherence exist across sociodemographic groups.
• Targeted outreach is essential to address barriers, promote engagement, and achieve health equity.