In the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Christiaan Abildso weighs in on a WVU study explaining the differences between how urban and rural residents exercise.
From the article:
For many people, “exercise” still conjures images of treadmills, gym memberships and tightly scheduled workouts.
But new research from West Virginia University suggests that how Americans actually move — especially outside major metro areas — looks very different. And more importantly, it may not be enough regardless of where you live.
Researchers, looking at 2019 data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, found that, while walking is the most common leisure-time physical activity — reported by 44.1% of all adults polled — activity patterns, including types, frequency and intensity of exercise, vary sharply by where people live. The analysis was published last month in the peer-reviewed PLOS One journal.
“A fairly high percentage of [U.S. adults] are not doing enough walking to meet guidelines,” said Christiaan Abildso, one of the study’s authors and physical activity specialist at WVU Extension and its Family Nutrition Program. “They’re doing some, but not enough.”
Read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.
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