Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Physical Activity among Adults
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Physical Activity among Adults by County, New Jersey, 2013, 2015, 2017
Why Is This Important?
Maintenance of a physically active lifestyle is recognized in public health as one of the essential features of a healthy life. While it has long been known that physical activity can prevent heart disease, newer studies suggest that, on average, physically active persons outlive those who are inactive.
Definition
Among adults, the proportion who engage in aerobic physical activity of at least moderate intensity for at least 150 minutes/week, or 75 minutes/week of vigorous intensity, or an equivalent combination.
Data Sources
- Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health
(http://www.nj.gov/health/chs/njbrfs/) - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/index.html)
How the Measure is Calculated
| Numerator: | Number of adults aged 18 years and older who meet aerobic physical activity recommendations of getting at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate-vigorous intensity activity. |
| Denominator: | Number of surveyed adults aged 18 years and older (excludes unknowns or refusals ). |
How Are We Doing?
The percentage of people reporting that they get the recommended level of physical activity in 2017 was about 49%. The 2017 data shows that fewer Hispanics (41%) and Blacks (41%) reported meeting the recommendation compared to Whites (52%) and Asians (57%).
What Is Being Done?
The New Jersey Department of Health coordinates efforts to work with communities to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that address behaviors related to increasing physical activity, breastfeeding initiation and duration, and the consumption of fruits and vegetables, and to decreasing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and high-energy-dense foods, and to decrease television viewing.
Health Program Information
NJDOH Office of Nutrition and Fitness: https://nj.gov/health/nutrition/