Moderate Physical Activity Patterns of Minority Women: The Cross-Cultural Activity Participation Study

TLDR

The study analyzed 12 days of detailed physical activity records from 141 African American and Native American women aged 40 and older enrolled in the Cross‑Cultural Activity Participation Study, with records collected every other month over three consecutive 4‑day periods. Among the participants, 63–70 % met the CDC/ACSM moderate‑intensity activity recommendation on most days, nearly a third met it for more than one 4‑day period, and when meeting the threshold they averaged 112 min/day of moderate activity, with household chores, walking, occupational tasks, child care, and lawn/garden activities comprising the bulk of activity, while fewer than 25 % engaged in conditioning or sports and Native Americans were generally more active than African Americans, and the authors recommend consistent definitions and inclusion of occupation‑ and home‑related activities in surveys.

Abstract

Using data from 12 days of detailed physical activity records (PA records), we analyzed the physical activity patterns of 141 African American and Native American women, ages 40 and older, enrolled in the Cross-Cultural Activity Participation Study. PA records were completed every other month for three consecutive 4-day periods. The proportion of women who met the 1993 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine recommendation to accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity during most days of the week (at least 3 days of the 4-day periods) ranged from 63% to 70%. Nearly one third of women met the recommendation for more than one 4-day period. On days when subjects accumulated at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, time spent in moderate activity was 112 minutes/day. Most women performed household chores (95%, median = 24 minutes/day), walking for exercise (87%, median = 30 minutes/day), occupational (65%, median = 37 minutes/day), child care (53%, median = 32 minutes/day), and lawn and garden activities (51%, median = 43 minutes/day). Fewer than 25% reported conditioning and sports activities. In general, more Native Americans than African Americans were active in moderate activities. In conclusion, definitions used to characterize regular physical activity should be consistent among studies, and physical activity surveys among women should include occupation-related and home-related activities.