Are We Really Working Out More? at Her Active Life

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Are We Really Working Out More?

Posted December 2, 2007 at 05:00 PM by Alexandra M. Haller

Section: Her Fitness, Her Health, Her News

Soccer Player A new study says that Americans are exercising more - but senior writer Alexandra M. Haller has a few questions to ask the brains behind the study. Read on for her take on the new findings, before you get too pumped up about the apparent rise in physical activity.

If someone doing a research study called and asked about your level of physical activity, how truthful might you be? Maybe you’ve had a gym membership for years, but how often are you getting there? Perhaps you cut your lawn with a push mower. Would you say you dutifully do that for 2 hours each week when, just maybe, two times a month is a more representative answer?

These are some of the questions that plague me as I read about a research study that says exercise rates are up for American adults. Conducted by the CDCP, this study says that for women reporting regular physical activity, the numbers rose by 4%, and for men it was about 2%. The increases are slight but, to be fair, any news about Americans becoming more active is good news. However, there’s quite a disparity. If more people are exercising, why are certain weight-related conditions (such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease) on the rise?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle takes a multi-faceted approach. Engaging in physical activity is the right thing to do. However, you must keep in mind that nutritious eating is equally important. Before you are quick to pat yourself on the back after your 30 minute morning walk, keep in mind the effects can quickly be negated by eating a Krispy Kreme for breakfast.

Another issue I have with the easy conclusion that more people are exercising is the ambiguity of the terms used in the study. Gardening was considered a moderate activity, and heavy yard work was considered vigorous. I don’t question the fact that manual labor can be tough. However, how many people were honest in their answers of how “heavy” the yard work realistically was or how long they were engaged in that activity?

Let me also note what the data was based on. Researchers called about 356,000 adults with landlines in 2005 and based those results against the 205,000 polled in 2001. That’s roughly a 75% increase in the number of respondents, and yet we’re only reporting a 2% increase in moderate or vigorous activities? That knowledge takes a bit of the glee out of the quick headline “Exercise rates are up.”

I have to say that upon further investigation, the results are a bit deflating. Weight-related illnesses and conditions aren’t on the rise mysteriously. We need to get moving and we need to do it consistently. We need to be mindful of avoiding high-cholesterol, high-sugar diets and work to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into our meals. For those who are truthfully doing what needs to be done, you have earned yourself a very heart-healthy pat on the back. Keep it up!

The survey was done by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is being published this week in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a CDC publication.