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Show Changing Sedentary Lifestyle Among Adult Utahns by Wu Xu, Ph.D.; Michael Friedrichs, M.Stat.; Kirsten Davis, B.S.; and Rosemary Thackeray, M.P.H. Abstract Sedentary lifestyle as a recognized risk factor for health outcomes is a relatively new concept. Based on analyses of three available data sources, this article presents a multilevel overview of physical activity among Utah adults. Study I reports a trend of sedentary lifestyle in Utah since the 1980s. Study II reveals an inconsistency between Utahns' awareness regarding the benefits of physical activity and apparent lack of action in the 1990s. In order to meet the challenge of changing sedentary lifestyle in Utah, Studies III and IV examine the influences often factors on physical activity, including the effects of individual socio-demographic characteristics, health insurance status, and relationships with others in family and community. The authors suggest that public health initiatives must be multifaceted; family-and community-focused, specific groups targeted; and grounded in research of health education, social sciences and behavior change, and effective social-marketing. Introduction Considerable research has documented that physical activity reduces the risk for cardiovascular diseases, colon cancer, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, obesity, and depression, and it also enhances the overall quality of life (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1996). Scholars have suggested that physical activity might provide the shortcut public health professionals seek for the control of chronic diseases, similar to immunization-facilitated progress against infectious diseases (McGinnis, 1992). Therefore, physical activity and fitness have been listed as the first priority area of national health promotion and disease prevention objectives (see Healthy People 2000 or HP2000, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 1991). In 1996, the U.S. Surgeon General released a landmark document, Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General, identifying that physical inactivity is a serious, nationwide problem (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1996). HP2000 proposed to monitor physical activity at three levels, that is, light-to-moderate, vigorous, and no leisure-time physical activity. Specific objectives were identified for the nation: (a) HP2000 1.3 objective: to increase to at least 30% the proportion of people aged six and older who engage regularly, preferably daily, in light-to-moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day; (b) HP2000 1.4 objective: to increase to at least 20% the proportion of people aged 18 and older who engage in vigorous physical activity that promotes the development and maintenance of cardiorespiratory fitness three or more days per week for 20 or more minutes per occasion; and (c) HP2000 1.5 objective: to reduce to less than 15% the proportion of people aged six and older who have no leisure-time physical activity (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 1991). Since the release of the U.S. Surgeon General's report, the "public health message" on physical activity has focused on promoting 30 minutes of accumulated physical activity every day. This article presents a comprehensive review and analysis of adults' physical activity in Utah from 1985 to 1996 based on data from three population-based surveys, namely, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the 1996 Utah Health Status Surveys, and the 1996 Utah Chronic Disease Awareness Survey. Physical activity is measured and analyzed at four different levels in this paper. Appropriate methods were selected for specific analyses. Due to the complicated nature of the measure, data source, and method for each issue under discussion, the article is organized around specific studies. A brief literature review and clarification of study method are presented at the beginning of each study, followed by study results. Study I reports a trend of sedentary lifestyle in Utah since the 1980s. Study II reveals an inconsistency between Utahns' awareness regarding the benefits of physical activity and their lack of action in the 1990s. In order to meet the challenge of changing sedentary lifestyle in Utah, Studies III and IV examine the influences of ten factors on physical activity, including the effects of individual socio-demographic characteristics, health insurance status, and relationships with others in family and community. At the end of the paper, summary and discussion of major findings from all studies and policy implications are presented. 36 |