Doctors in the US are increasingly advising adults to exercise or be more physically active, according to a new report from
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published online on Thursday.
The report shows that in 2010, about one in three adults (32.4%) who had seen a doctor or health professional in the past year had been advised to take up or continue exercise or physical activity. This is more than 40% increase since 2000, when the figure was less than one in four (22.6%) adults.
The report is published by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and was compiled by researchers Patricia Barnes, who is with the Office of Research and Methodology, and Charlotte Schoenborn, who is with the Division of Health Interview Statistics at the NCHS.
To compile their report, Barnes and Schoenborn used data from the National Health Interview Survey, 2000, 2005, and 2010. The household-based survey is collected by interviewers from the US Census Bureau and includes the question:
"During the past 12 months, did a doctor or other health professional recommend that you begin or continue to do any type of exercise or physical activity?"
One of the most surprising key findings was that among adults aged 85 and older, there was a nearly two-fold increase from 15.3% in 2000 to 28.9% in 2010, of those who had seen a doctor in the last 12 months receiving a recommendation for exercise or physical activity.
However, the age group with the largest number of adults receiving such advice in 2010 were the 45 to 74-year-olds (nearly 42%).
The age group least likely to receive such a recommendation from their doctor or health professional were the 18 to 24-year-olds (16.1%), although all groups had increased from 2000 to 2010.
The trend was also upwards among all race and ethnic groups, with Hispanic adults showing the largest percentage increase over the decade, from 20.8% of adults receiving a recommendation to exercise in 2000 to 35.8% in 2010.
The report shows that receiving advice to exercise also varied depending on whether patients had certain chronic health conditions.
Adults with diabetes were more likely to receive a recommendation to exercise or be more physically active than those with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or cancer.
In 2010, 56.3% of adults with diabetes who had seen their doctor or health practitioner in the last 12 months were advised to exercise, compared with 35.8% of those with cancer.
Trends also varied depending on whether patients were overweight or obese.
The percentage of adults who had been advised to exercise increased in each category (underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese) between 2000 and 2010, although the increase was largest for adults who were obese.
In 2010, adults who were obese were about twice as likely as healthy weight adults to receive advice from their doctor or health professional to begin or continue to exercise (46.9% compared with 22.6%).
In their summary, the authors write:
"Trends over the past 10 years suggest that the medical community is increasing its efforts to recommend participation in exercise and other physical activity that research has shown to be associated with substantial health benefits. Still, the prevalence of receiving this advice remains well below one-half of US adults and varies substantially across population subgroups."
Research shows that regular exercise and physical activity can lower the risk of chronic health conditions, and reduce dependence on medication. It can also help people maintain an independent life and improves quality of life in the elderly.
There is also evidence that people take notice when their doctor advises them to exercise: such advice is more likely to make them go away and do it.
The report shows that in 2010, about one in three adults (32.4%) who had seen a doctor or health professional in the past year had been advised to take up or continue exercise or physical activity. This is more than 40% increase since 2000, when the figure was less than one in four (22.6%) adults.
The report is published by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and was compiled by researchers Patricia Barnes, who is with the Office of Research and Methodology, and Charlotte Schoenborn, who is with the Division of Health Interview Statistics at the NCHS.
To compile their report, Barnes and Schoenborn used data from the National Health Interview Survey, 2000, 2005, and 2010. The household-based survey is collected by interviewers from the US Census Bureau and includes the question:
"During the past 12 months, did a doctor or other health professional recommend that you begin or continue to do any type of exercise or physical activity?"
One of the most surprising key findings was that among adults aged 85 and older, there was a nearly two-fold increase from 15.3% in 2000 to 28.9% in 2010, of those who had seen a doctor in the last 12 months receiving a recommendation for exercise or physical activity.
However, the age group with the largest number of adults receiving such advice in 2010 were the 45 to 74-year-olds (nearly 42%).
The age group least likely to receive such a recommendation from their doctor or health professional were the 18 to 24-year-olds (16.1%), although all groups had increased from 2000 to 2010.
The trend was also upwards among all race and ethnic groups, with Hispanic adults showing the largest percentage increase over the decade, from 20.8% of adults receiving a recommendation to exercise in 2000 to 35.8% in 2010.
The report shows that receiving advice to exercise also varied depending on whether patients had certain chronic health conditions.
Adults with diabetes were more likely to receive a recommendation to exercise or be more physically active than those with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or cancer.
In 2010, 56.3% of adults with diabetes who had seen their doctor or health practitioner in the last 12 months were advised to exercise, compared with 35.8% of those with cancer.
Trends also varied depending on whether patients were overweight or obese.
The percentage of adults who had been advised to exercise increased in each category (underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese) between 2000 and 2010, although the increase was largest for adults who were obese.
In 2010, adults who were obese were about twice as likely as healthy weight adults to receive advice from their doctor or health professional to begin or continue to exercise (46.9% compared with 22.6%).
In their summary, the authors write:
"Trends over the past 10 years suggest that the medical community is increasing its efforts to recommend participation in exercise and other physical activity that research has shown to be associated with substantial health benefits. Still, the prevalence of receiving this advice remains well below one-half of US adults and varies substantially across population subgroups."
Research shows that regular exercise and physical activity can lower the risk of chronic health conditions, and reduce dependence on medication. It can also help people maintain an independent life and improves quality of life in the elderly.
There is also evidence that people take notice when their doctor advises them to exercise: such advice is more likely to make them go away and do it.
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