Percentage distribution of periods of vigorous physical activity per week among persons ages 18 to 24, by selected characteristics: 1999 and 2008

NCES 2012-026
December 2011

Youth Indicators 2011
America’s Youth: Transitions to Adulthood

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Table 44.	Percentage distribution of periods of vigorous physical activity per week among persons ages 18 to 24, by selected characteristics: 1999 and 2008

Characteristic	Frequency of vigorous physical activity per week¹
	Never		Less than 1				1–2			3–4				5 or more
	1999	2008	1999		2008		1999	2008		1999		2008		1999		2008
Total	44.9	44.2	3.2		4.8		19.1	18.9		16.8		17.3		16.0		14.8

Sex
Male	35.0	36.1	3.4		5.7		21.1	19.4		20.2		19.2		20.4		19.6
Female	54.7	52.3	3.0		3.9		17.2	18.3		13.4		15.5		11.7		10.0

Age
18–21	42.9	42.9	2.5		4.4		20.5	18.5		16.9		18.4		17.1		15.8
22–24	47.4	45.9	4.1		5.4		17.3	19.3		16.6		15.9		14.6		13.5

Race/ethnicity
White	39.9	38.3	3.1		5.4		21.3	21.1		17.8		19.6		17.9		15.5
Black	56.2	55.8	4.2	!	5.0		14.7	11.9		12.7		13.5		12.3		13.9
Hispanic	55.8	55.9	2.2		2.9		13.6	14.5		15.2		13.7		13.2		13.0
Asian	44.2	40.3	‡		‡		19.2	26.2		21.2		14.7		9.8	!	12.5	!
American Indian/Alaska Native	‡	‡	‡		‡		‡	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Two or more races	‡	‡	‡		‡		‡	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Other races²	42.4	43.1	‡		‡		‡	26.9	!	14.1	!	8.5	!	17.8	!	20.2	!

Educational attainment
Less than high school diploma	58.6	56.4	2.3	!	5.5	!	13.2	11.0		10.6		14.0		15.3		13.1
High school completion only³	51.3	52.4	3.4		3.7		16.7	15.0		13.8		14.8		14.7		14.1
Some college	36.3	36.5	2.7		5.2		23.2	22.3		20.4		19.5		17.4		16.4
Associate's degree	39.6	35.4	3.1	!	5.3	!	20.0	15.7		23.8		25.5		13.5		18.2
Bachelor's or higher degree	24.6	30.9	6.4		4.3	!	26.6	33.4		24.1		18.5		18.3		12.8
Poverty status⁴
Poor	48.6	48.7	2.7		4.6		15.7	17.5		16.2		14.7		16.7		14.5
Near-poor	49.3	45.5	4.5		6.9	!	16.2	15.9		12.8		15.9		17.1		15.8
Nonpoor	39.1	40.5	3.1		4.3		21.5	21.6		19.9		19.8		16.4		13.9

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 30 percent or greater.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases or the coefficient of variation (CV) is 50 percent or greater.

¹Questions related to leisure-time physical activity were phrased in terms of current behavior and lack a specific reference period. Respondents were asked about the frequency and duration of physical activity during leisure time. They were asked how often they did vigorous activities during their leisure time for at least 10 minutes that caused heavy sweating and large increases in breathing or heart rates. Persons who indicated that they were unable to do vigorous activity were included in the "Never" category.

² Includes Pacific Islanders.

³ Includes equivalency certification.

⁴ Children in families whose incomes are below the poverty threshold are classified as poor; those in families with incomes at 100–199 percent of the poverty threshold are classified as near-poor, and those in families with incomes at 200 percent or more of the poverty threshold are classified as nonpoor. Detail may not sum to totals because of missing values for poverty.

NOTE: Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Detail may not sum to totals due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 1999 and 2008.