The baseline and target for this objective is based
upon the proportion engaging in physical activity for at least 30
minutes on 5 or more days of the week, regardless of intensity. Beginning
in 2001 as a result of changes to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance
System (BRFSS) physical activity questions, BRFSS data will provide
data on the objectives as stated, for moderate physical activity;
the baseline and target may need to be reevaluated at that time.
Adequate physical activity entails participation
in moderate activity for 30 minutes or more, at least five days
a week. It provides many health benefits such as strengthening of
the heart, lungs, and bones; developing strength, endurance, and
flexibility of muscles; and enhancing circulation.
Public health experts estimate that 26 percent of
total premature deaths result from lack of regular physical activity
and poor nutrition. On the average, people who are physically active
outlive those who are inactive. An active lifestyle can enhance
the quality of life for people of all ages, can prevent many physical
and mental illnesses, and can maintain the functional independence
of older adults.
The 1996 Surgeon General’s Report
on Physical Activity and Health concluded that regular sustained
physical activity can substantially reduce the risk of developing
or dying from heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer (and other types
of cancer), and high blood pressure. The significant negative impact
of poor diet and physical inactivity caused an estimated 9,200 preventable
deaths in North Carolina in 1997. Since the early 1980s, the level
of physical activity has been decreasing. In North Carolina, participation
in physical activity is below the national average with only 14
percent of adults reporting in 1996 that they participated in 30
minutes of physical activity at least five times per week. This
means that 86 percent of adults were not achieving the recommended
level of activity.
Nationally, self-reported participation
in vigorous physical activity among youth has decreased slightly
from 66 percent in 1991 to 64 percent in 1997. The same year in
North Carolina, only 55 percent of students reported participating
in vigorous physical activity. Consistent findings over time suggest
that girls are less active than boys, teenagers are less active
than younger children, and African American/Black girls are the
least active of all. Regular physical activity, which maintains
muscle strength and endurance, is a key factor in preventing falls
and irregularities in bowel and bladder.
The total direct and indirect costs for
physical inactivity are difficult to determine. A projected four-year
financial cost of physical inactivity reveals an estimated cost
to North Carolinians of $9.28 billion in both direct and indirect
costs. Successful interventions that increase by only five percent
the proportion of North Carolina adults who are moderately physically
active could save approximately $116 million in costs each year
over a four-year span. Beyond the more specific health care and
employment costs due to physical inactivity, there are broader social
costs that are often not considered.
