Leisure-Time Physical Activity Among Women of Reproductive Age - United States, 2022 and 2024

Physical activity has numerous health benefits, including for women of reproductive age (18-44 years), among whom it can prevent chronic disease, including osteoporosis, and improve maternal health. Understanding the prevalence of leisure-time physical activity among different sociodemographic groups of women of reproductive age can help guide public health interventions and messaging. Data from the 2022 and 2024 National Health Interview Survey were used to examine the prevalences of self-reported leisure-time physical activity and meeting recommendations in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, among 10,981 women aged 18-44 years by race and ethnicity, age, and educational attainment. Overall, an estimated 25.1% of women aged 18-44 years reported leisure time activity meeting recommendations for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity, 27.1% reported leisure time activity meeting only the aerobic activity recommendation, and 6.1% reported leisure time activity meeting only the muscle-strengthening activity recommendation. An estimated 47.2% of women reported leisure-time physical activity insufficient to meet either recommendation (including those reporting no leisure time physical activity). Prevalences of reported aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity varied by race and ethnicity, age, and educational attainment: higher percentages of younger women (women aged 18-24 years), non-Hispanic White (White) women, and women with higher levels of educational attainment met both recommendations than did older women (women aged 30-34 or 40-44 years), women who are not White, and those with less educational attainment. Given the benefits of physical activity for maternal, physical, and mental health, addressing possible population-specific barriers to physical activity among women of reproductive age could be an important strategy for improving health outcomes.