PCD News Summary for February 27, 2020

About the Journal: Published every Thursday, Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD) is a peer-reviewed online journal established by CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. The News Media Branch prepares press summary packets each week. To receive these press summaries on an embargoed basis, send an e-mail to media@cdc.gov. Please note that this e-mail list is for credentialed journalists only. All others, please visit Hookup to Health to sign up for e-mail updates.

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CDC’s News Media Branch releases to reporters the PCD media packet every Tuesday afternoon between 12 and 2 pm.

Embargoed until Thursday, February 27, at 12:00 PM ET

Removing the 10-Minute Bout Requirement Has Little Impact on National Physical Activity Estimates

A new CDC report indicates that including short bouts (less than 10 minutes) of self-reported physical activity in total volume of self-reported physical activity has minimal impact on national physical activity prevalence estimates. The updated Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (2nd edition) removes the requirement that physical activity should occur in bouts lasting 10 minutes or more to count toward the minimum aerobic guideline. Using self-reported data from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, researchers examined differences in national physical activity estimates with and without this requirement. Overall, 1.9% of adults reported activities in short bouts (<10 minutes). When excluding short bouts, 29.9% were inactive, 20.7% were insufficiently active, and 49.4% were active. When including short bouts, 29.1% were inactive, 21.4% were insufficiently active, and 49.5% were active. Eliminating the 10-minute-bout requirement had little effect on physical activity estimates.

Melissa Newton
Idoneous Consulting, Contractor
Preventing Chronic Disease, CDC
404.718.6281
mndwton@cdc.gov

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Note: Not all articles published in PCD represent work done at CDC. In your stories, please clarify whether a study was conducted by CDC (“a CDC study”) or by another institution (“a study published by CDC”). The opinions expressed by authors contributing to PCD do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CDC or the institutions with which the authors are affiliated. PCD requests that, when possible, you include a live link to the article in your stories. 

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