So Far in 2015, More Americans Exercising Frequently.
Byline: Rebecca Riffkin
Synopsis: More Americans reported exercising frequently in June 2015 (55.5%) than in any month since Gallup and Healthways began tracking this metric in January 2008. Frequent exercise is more common among men, Hispanics and young adults.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- More Americans are exercising consistently each week, with 55.5% indicating frequent exercise in June 2015, more than in any month since Gallup and Healthways began tracking this metric in January 2008. In every month this year, more Americans reported exercising for at least 30 minutes three or more days per week than in the same month for the past two years, indicating that Americans' exercise habits may be improving in 2015.
Gallup and Healthways ask at least 500 American adults each day about their exercise frequency. Specifically, these Americans are asked to report how many days in the last seven they exercised for at least 30 minutes.
Exercise follows a seasonal trend in the U.S., with more Americans saying they work out in the summer and less in the winter. The difference in frequent exercise during summer and winter months is typically about seven percentage points.
In the first half of the year, on average, 52.5% of Americans reported exercising for at least half an hour on three or more days of the previous week. This is slightly below the average of 53.0% for the first half of 2012, but up from the same time period in 2013 and 2014, making 2015 the second-highest year-to-date average in this survey. The lowest average occurred in 2009, when 49.3% of Americans reported exercising frequently in the first half of the year, the only time this average has been below 50%.
Frequent Exercise More Common Among Men, Hispanics and Young Adults
June 2015 reports of frequent exercise vary by demographics. Men are more likely than women to report exercising frequently. Younger adults, aged 18 to 29, are significantly more likely to exercise frequently than those who are older. And Hispanics are slightly more likely to report exercising frequently than whites, and much more likely than blacks.
Among income groups, upper-income Americans are the most likely to exercise frequently, and lower-income Americans are the least likely. Americans who live in the West are more likely to exercise than those in any other region, while those in the South are the least likely. These trends have been consistent over time.
Implications
While frequent exercise seems to...
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