Data & Statistics

In Virginia…

22% of Virginians are Completely Sedentary, meaning that they get almost no physical activity at all.

Half of all Virginians get less than Moderate Physical Activity.

70% of Virginians don’t get regular, Vigorous Physical Activity

1. Sedentary: No Leisure Time Exercise or Physical Activity in Last 30 Days, (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, BRFSS – 21.7% in 2006).
2. No Moderate, Regular Physical Activity: Defined as 30+ minutes of moderate physical activity five or more days per week, or vigorous physical activity for 20+ minutes three or more days per week; (BRFSS - 49.2% in 2005).
3. Vigorous, Regular: No Vigorous Activity for 20 or More Minutes Per Day on 3 or More Days per week, (BRFSS - 69.6% in 2005).

 

Combining the portion of Virginians who report being neither  vigorously or moderately physically active on a regular basis yields the bar graph below showing how many Virginians are insufficiently active to positively impact their health. 

Of particular concern is the lack of physical activity (PA) among adolescent and teenage girls.  Adults who were active as adolescents and/or teens are more likely to remain active or “restart” an active lifestyle during their adult years.  Nearly 3 out of 4 High School girls do not get the recommended level of physical activity;
and of that group 11% percent get no physical activity at all.

1. (Versus High School boys among whom only a little more than half do not get the recommended level of physical activity (RLPA) and only 1% get none at all), CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) 72.2% in 2005.
2. (YRBS) 11.3% in 2005.

 

For information on encouraging more physical activity among adolescent and high school girls see the materials in the Resources page and refer to Powerful Bones. Powerful Girls,  BAM! Body and Mind., and girlshealth.gov , also listed in the Links page

 

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