To be healthy and fit, Americans know they should exercise.
Yet, just 1 in 5 adults gets the recommended amount of physical activity they should.
The problem of inactivity is worse among older adults.
Barriers.People generally know exercise is important (more on that later).
So just what keeps them from moving more when they know its good for them?
About 42% say they feel too tired and 40% do not enjoy exercise.
Cost and weather were other factors cited as reasons for not being active enough.
Yet, 70% of exercisers work out solo.
Exercisers age 50 or older are significantly more likely to spend their time alone than those ages 18-34.
A fitness challenge can be one way to inspire people to get in shape.
Exercise awareness.Whether they exercise or not, most Americans recognize the value of an active lifestyle.
About 20 percent of older survey respondents agreed that staying connected to family and friends were perks of exercise.
Raked weights are estimated using Random Iterative Method (RIM) weighting.
For more information contact G. Oscar Anderson atganderson@aarp.org.
