How are we doing with physical activity?

An estimated 60% of U.S. adults are inactive or underactive, and nearly hal f of America's youth (aged 12 to 21 years) are not vigorously active on a r egular basis. Downstream interventions provide individual strategies that e ffectively increase short-term participation in physical activity by 10% to 25%. Downstream and midstream approaches tailored to individual preference s have greater success. Packaging and disseminating physical activity progr ams for community, worksite, and health care settings are not as far along as for other areas, although inactivity prevalence is about mice that of sm oking, and both risk factors have substantial morbidity and mortality Less is known about effectiveness of upstream approaches, which have potential f or the greatest public health impact. Suggestions include continued promoti on of moderate-intensity physical activity, greater dissemination of succes sful programs, and investigation of physical environment influences.