Prevalence of physical inactivity during leisure time among overweight persons--Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1994.

During 1988-1991, approximately one third of adults in the United States were overweight--an important risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. In addition to diet modification, initiating and maintaining regular physical activity is an important component of an effective weight-control strategy. To determine the prevalence of physical inactivity during leisure time among adults who are overweight, CDC analyzed data from the 1994 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicate that more than one third (37%) of overweight persons report no physical activity during their leisure time.