While we’re happy that you’re reading this, we’d like to encourage all of our readers to get out there and get a bit more active. According to the recently released Physical Activity Council (PAC) study, inactivity levels in the United States has risen to 68.2 million people, up from 67.2 million in 2010. This included adults ages 18 and older, and those not participating in any of the physical activities measured continued to increase, rising from 58.7 million in 2010 to 60 million in 2011.
The good news is that PAC, a partnership of six major trade associations in the sports, fitness, and leisure industries, reported that inactivity among children ages six to 12 fell slightly from 4.6 million people in 2010 to 4.5 million people in 2011. This may be an early indication that efforts to engage children in sports, recreation and other related physical activities are starting to have a slight effect on America’s youngest generation.The research is part of the 2012 Participation Report, an annual study tracking sports, fitness and recreation participation in the United States.
Some of the key findings showed that participation in outdoor sports, like camping and hiking, saw the only increase in overall participation for the grouped participation categories, regaining the two percentage points it lost in 2010.
Additionally fitness sports remained the most popular physical activity with the participation rate holding steady at 60 percent – for the fourth year in a row. Fitness activities, like yoga, boot camp-style training and other classes, continued to drive this set of activities.
All we can say is turn off the computer from time to time and get active!