A survey finds that increasing numbers of Americans did not participate in any physical activities in the last year. At least one feature of the build environment—access to school gyms—is blamed.
"The number of Americans who were 'totally sedentary' last year rose to its highest level since 2007," reports Sara Germano. The dispiriting statistic is a finding of a recent survey by the Physical Activity Council, released this week.
"Roughly 83 million Americans age 6 and over, or about 28% of the population, reported that they did not once participate in any of 104 specific physical activities in the last calendar year," according to Germano's explanation of the survey findings. "The number of totally sedentary Americans has risen 18% since 2007, while the percentage of the total inactive population age 6 and over has grown by three percentage points over the same period."
The article goes on to point out some of the direct correlations claimed by the survey, including physical education at schools. According to Germano, "the council are concerned that decreasing minutes for gym in schools is a chief contributor to rising levels of inactivity among adults."
Jennifer Larino also covered the results of the survey for the Times-Picayune, for those unable to access the original article, which is behind the Wall Street Journal paywall. A press release on the Physical Activity Council's website and the full report [pdf] are also available for finding out more information about the study.
FULL STORY: American Inactivity Level Is Highest Since 2007, Survey Finds
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