SD 2.4

REGULAR PHYSICAL EXERCISE

Sixty (60) percent of Americans do not exercise regularly, according to a 1996 report by the Surgeon General, despite the many health benefits associated with physical activity.¹⁴ People of all ages, both male and female, benefit from regular physical activity. Significant health benefits can be obtained by including a moderate amount of physical activity (e.g., 30 minutes of brisk walking or raking leaves, 15 minutes of running, or 45 minutes of playing volleyball) on most, if not all, days of the week.

The percentage of 12th grade students who report actively participating in sports or exercise "almost every day" has remained fairly stable since 1976, varying between 44 and 48 percent. Rates have also been stable for 8th and 10th grade students since 1991, the first year in which data were collected (see Table SD 2.4.A).

Differences by Age. The percentages of students who report that they actively participate in sports or exercise "almost every day" decreased with age. In 1995, for example, 56 percent of 8th graders, 53 percent of 10th graders, and 45 percent of 12th graders reported daily or almost daily exercise (see Figure SD 2.4). A similar pattern emerged in a survey that asked teens whether they had exercised vigorously three or more times in the past week (see Table SD 2.4.B).

Differences by Gender. Males consistently report exercising or participating in sports more often than females. In 1995, for each age group, male rates were 17 to 19 percentage points higher than female rates, a trend that exists for nearly every year that data are available (see Table SD 2.4.A).

Differences by Race. Black and white students in the 8th and 10th grade are about equally likely to exercise regularly (see Table SD 2.4.A). Among 12th grade students, blacks appeared to be less likely than whites to exercise regularly during the 1990’s, though this difference almost disappeared in 1995. Other survey data, reported in Table SD 2.4.B, show larger differences by race and ethnic group. Specifically, in 1995 67 percent of non-Hispanic white teens reported exercising at least three times a week, compared to 53 percent of non-Hispanic black teens and 57 percent of Hispanic teens (see Table SD 2.4.B).
 

Figure SD 2.4   Percentage of 8th, 10th, and 12th Grade Students Who Report that They Actively Participate in Sports or Exercise “Almost Every Day,” by Gender: 1995

Source: Bachman, J.G., Johnston, L.D. and O’Malley, P.M. “The Monitoring the Future Study,” University of Michigan, 8th and 10th grade 1991-1995 Questionaire Forms 1 and 2, and 12th grade 1976-1995 Questionnaire Form 2.
 
 

Table SD 2.4.A  Percentage of 8th, 10th, and 12th Grade Students Who Report that They Actively Participate in Sports or Exercise "Almost Every Day:" Selected Years, 1976-1995
				1976	1981	1986	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
8th Grade
	Total			--	--	--	57	55	55	53	56
		Gender
			Male	--	--	--	65	65	65	63	66
			Female	--	--	--	49	45	46	44	47
		Race/Ethnicity
			White	--	--	--	58	56	58	56	59
			Black	--	--	--	61	57	54	52	55
10th Grade
	Total			--	--	--	54	54	53	53	53
		Gender
			Male	--	--	--	63	64	62	62	62
			Female	--	--	--	45	45	45	44	45
		Race/Ethnicity
			White	--	--	--	55	55	54	54	55
			Black	--	--	--	54	52	56	50	52
12th Grade
	Total			44	48	44	46	46	44	45	45
		Gender
			Male	52	56	54	55	59	55	56	55
			Female	36	39	36	36	33	33	36	37
		Race/Ethnicity
			White	43	47	46	48	48	46	49	46
			Black	49	53	43	43	41	39	39	48
Source: Bachman, J.G., Johnston, L.D. and O’Malley, P.M. "The Monitoring the Future Study," University of Michigan, 8th and 10th grade 1991-1995 Questionnaire Forms 1 and 2, and 12th grade 1976-1995 Questionnaire Form 2. Data for the 12th grade based on one of six questionnaire forms with a resulting sample size one-sixth of the total sample size for each year.

 
 

Table SD 2.4.B  Percentage of Teens in Grades 9-12 Who Report Having Exercised Vigorously Three or More Times in the Past Seven Days: 1993 and 1995
							1993				1995
							———————————				———————————
								Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female
								———	———	———	———	———	———
Total								66	75	56	64	74	52
	Grade
			9					75	81	68	72	80	62
			10					70	77	61	69	79	59
			11					63	71	53	60	72	47
			12					58	70	45	55	67	42
	Race/Ethnicity
		White, non-Hispanic						68	76	59	67	76	57
		Black, non-Hispanic						60	71	49	53	68	41
		Hispanic						59	69	50	57	70	45
Note: Vigorous physical exercise is defined as activities that caused sweating and hard breathing for at least 20 minutes.   Source: Kann L., Warren, C.W., Harris, W.A., Collins, J.L., Williams, B.I., Ross, J.G., and Kolbe, L.J. "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance -- United States, 1993." Vol. 44, No. SS-1 and "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance -- United States, 1995." Vol. 45, No. SS-4.