Prevalence of sedentary lifestyle--Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 1991

Despite increasing evidence of the health benefits of Physical activity, the United States remains predominantly a sedentary society. In 1990, nearly 60% of the U.S. adult population reported little or no leisure-time physical activity. Persons who engage in no physical activity are at higher risk for death from coronary heart disease than are persons who exercise regularly. To estimate the prevalence of sedentary lifestyle and identify groups characterized by a high prevalence of physical inactivity, CDC analyzed data on leisure-time physical activity from the 1991 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This report summarizes the results of the survey.