Characteristics of Older Adults Who Met Federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: United States, 2022

This report presents national estimates of the percentage of adults age 65 and older who met the federal physical activity guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities during leisure time by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics.

Data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey were used to estimate the percentage of adults age 65 and older who met the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2018 Federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities during leisure time. Adults were considered to have met the guidelines if they met both aerobic and muscle-strengthening recommendations. Estimates are presented by age group, sex, race and Hispanic origin, education, family income, urbanization level, respondent-assessed health status, chronic conditions, disability status, severity of depression symptoms, severity of anxiety symptoms, and body mass index.

Overall, 13.9% (age adjusted) of adults age 65 and older met federal physical activity guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities in 2022. Differences were seen by several sociodemographic characteristics. Men (16.9%), White non-Hispanic adults (15.2%), and those living in metropolitan areas (14.7%) were more likely to meet the guidelines. The percentage meeting the federal physical activity guidelines increased with increasing education level and family income and decreased with number of chronic conditions. Older adults who reported poor health status had the lowest percentage meeting the guidelines compared with those reporting good, very good, or excellent health. Older adults without disabilities were three times more likely to meet the federal physical activity guidelines than adults with disabilities (15.9% compared with 5.0%, respectively). Older adults with no depression or anxiety symptoms were more likely to meet the guidelines than those with mild symptoms or moderate or severe symptoms.