Regular exercise and physical activity should be a part of every modern man’s life. It makes the body stronger and sharpens the mind, making you more capable of overcoming everyday challenges and improving your life. These exercise statistics will show you exactly what the world thinks of exercise and how it fits into society’s routine.
Exercising is bound to change your life for the better, regardless of when you start implementing it into your weekly routine. It’s never too late to start paying more attention to your health, and these facts and statistics should be motivating enough to get you on the right track in 2021.
Top Ten Exercise Statistics
- 59.4% of men older than 18 reported exercising at least three times a week.
- The percentage of adolescents who meet the same objectives (26.1) has decreased since 2011.
- 55.1% of college students said they exercised one to four days a week with moderate intensity.
- 46.7% of people aged 65 and older reported exercising at least three times a week for at least a half-hour.
- 1 in 4 adults doesn’t exercise as much as they should
- Exercising regularly can lower your chances of premature death by 30%.
- 24.3% of adults meet the objectives for strength and aerobic exercises.
- Regular exercise in childhood and adolescence improves endurance and builds healthy bones and muscles.
- 54% of respondents said they worked out at the gym to stay healthy
- The environment you live in can have a great effect on how much you exercise.
General Exercise Statistics to Keep in Mind
How many people exercise? What motivates them to stay dedicated? These are some of the questions we will try to answer in the general part of our stats, where we’re trying to equip you to better understand the work of exercise.
1. 47.3% of those who didn’t finish high school exercise three times a week.
(Medical Expenditure Panel Survey)
The percentage of those who exercise at least three times a week rises with the education level. Therefore, 53.6% of high school graduates and 61.1% of respondents who went to some college reported exercising three times per week.
2. 54% of respondents said they worked out at the gym to stay healthy.
(Statista) (Statista)
Data from the same year (2016) shows that more than half of those who have ever been gym members have done so for health. American exercise statistics also show that 41% of respondents did indicate that they visit the gym in hopes of losing weight.
3. 58.1% of Caucasians said they exercise at least three times a week.
(Medical Expenditure Panel Survey)
According to the same data, Afro-Americans are in second place with 49.2%. The Hispanic or Latino ethnic group is right behind them, with 48.8% of respondents exercising a minimum of three times a week.
4. 59.4% of men older than 18 reported exercising at least three times a week, exercise stats say.
(Medical Expenditure Panel Survey)
Women aren’t too far behind, with 52.1% aged 18 and older saying they exercised for at least half an hour three times a week.
5. In 2016, 39% of people said they had been a member of a gym.
(Statista)
According to data from 2016, the vast majority of Americans were not or had never been members of a gym.
Age-Related Exercise Statistics
Our body changes as we get older and physical activity is an important factor in its development and building endurance. Let’s see how hard different generations and age groups work on meeting the official recommended guidelines for exercising.
6. 24.3% of adults meet the objectives for strength and aerobic exercises.
(Healthy People)
Over the years, there has been an increase in adults who meet the objectives of aerobic and strength exercises. In 2013, the percentage was 20.8%, marking a 3.5% increase over the span of four years.
7. Meanwhile, the percentage of adolescents who meet the same objectives (26.1) has decreased since 2011.
(Healthy People)
According to statistics about exercise from 2011, 21.9% of adolescents met the FPA guidelines for strength and aerobic exercises. This number decreased steadily over the years, with 21.6% in 2013, 20.5% in 2015, and 20% in 2017. The good news is that the target percentage of adolescents who exercise following FPA guidelines for 2020 is 24.1%.
8. Only 3.6% of public and private elementary schools required daily PE lessons for all students in the US in 2014.
(Healthy People)
According to child physical activity statistics, it seems that US schools don’t put as much focus on daily physical education for students as they used to. The percentage of schools with PE classes being held every day in 2006 was 4.4%. The problem is far from being ignored, though, as the target number for 2020 is 4.8%.
9. 55.1% of college students said they exercised one to four days a week with moderate-intensity.
(Bachelor’s Degree Online)
Even though the American College of Sports Medicine recommends adults do moderate-intensity exercise five or more days a week for at least 30 minutes, these college students exercise statistics indicate that most of the students don’t meet the guidelines.
Only 18.2% reported exercising three to seven days per week. However, the good news is that the majority of students didn’t have an issue with weight.
10. 46.7% of people aged 65 and older reported exercising at least three times a week for at least a half-hour, stats on exercise show.
(Medical Expenditure Panel Survey)
When it comes to the age group just before this one (45 to 64 years old), a little bit more than half of the respondents said they exercised at least three times a week for half an hour or more (53.5%). It’s no surprise that adults aged between 18 and 44 are most likely to be active, with 59.7% exercising regularly.
Facts & Statistics About Exercise Benefits to Get You Started
If you’re still not convinced you should start working out regularly, keep reading. We gathered some information about the different benefits of staying active, from physical to mental aspects. We hope they inspire you to do your first squat.
11. Exercising regularly can lower your chances of premature death by 30%.
(National Health Service)
On top of that, exercise reduces your risk of stroke and coronary heart disease by up to 35%. You’re up to 50% less likely to get type 2 diabetes, and you’re 68% less likely to fracture your hip as you age. Your chances of colon cancer are up to 50% lower, and your chances of breast cancer are lowered by up to 20%.
12. Exercise is excellent for improving mental health.
(National Centre for Biotechnological Information)
One of the top proven exercise facts is its effect on mental health. Mild exercise for half an hour, three days a week, is enough to reduce depression, anxiety, and bad moods. It also improves self-esteem and cognitive function.
Just taking a brisk walk three times a week for half an hour can help you attain these benefits.
13. It can help you lose weight.
(National Centre for Biotechnological Information)
The fact that exercise helps you lose weight is not surprising. By spending energy and burning calories, according to facts about exercise, you can successfully lower your overall body weight. The more you exercise, the more evident these results are, showing a strong correlation between exercise and your metabolic system.
14. Lack of exercise can cause an accumulation of oxidative stress, causing skin breakouts.
(National Centre for Biotechnological Information)
Antioxidant defenses usually take care of oxidative stress, keeping your skin clean and blemish-free. One of the lesser-known exercise facts is that when oxidative stress occurs, the antioxidant defenses can’t fight off free radical damage.
By exercising regularly and moderately, you increase your body’s natural production of antioxidants, thus protecting cells and keeping your skin clean.
15. Working out may even improve your sleep.
(National Centre for Biotechnological Information)
The correlation between sleep and exercise has been studied for over a decade. It has been found that working out regularly can have a small but positive effect on different aspects of sleep – total sleep time and quality of sleep being among them.
Interesting Facts About Exercise You May Not Know About
Here are some bonus facts about exercising and physical activity (and no, it’s not the same thing) you might find interesting.
16. 1 in 4 adults doesn’t exercise as much as they should.
(World Health Organization)
Not exercising enough is one of the leading risk factors for death globally. As well as that, it is a high-risk factor for cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
WHO is doing something to reduce insufficient physical activity, which is evident from their policies being operational in 56% of WHO Member States. The goal is to reduce physical inactivity by 10% by 2025.
17. Sport and physical activity aren’t the same things.
(World Health Organization)
Even though we use the terms “sport” and “physical activity” interchangeably, they are not the same. Physical activity is an umbrella term that includes sports and exercise. Perhaps one of the most surprising fitness facts for the average person, physical activity also includes activities like walking, doing chores, dancing, gardening, or playing.
18. Students who exercise can have higher academic performance.
(Fairfield PA Schools)
Exercising can improve overall grades and academic achievement. It makes it easier to concentrate and pay attention in class, thus contributing to better academic behavior.
19. Regular exercise in childhood and adolescence improves endurance and builds healthy bones and muscles.
(Fairfield PA Schools)
On top of that, it improves strength and can help keep a balanced weight. Notable exercise facts for kids and adolescents indicate a reduced level of stress and anxiety and improved self-esteem. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels may also be improved.
20. The environment you live in can have a great effect on how much you exercise.
(World Health Organization)
If you live in a supportive environment or community, you are more likely to exercise more. This is because environmental and urban policies have a huge potential to encourage physical activity.
FAQ
What happens if you don’t exercise?
(My Lungs My Life)
People who don’t exercise or are less active than they should be will eventually start to lose muscle bulk and become more breathless. Muscles, including those used for breathing and the large ones in the limbs, will weaken.
Those who don’t start being more active or exercising when they notice these signs will gradually feel worse. At one point, they may need help with even simple daily tasks.
What happens in your body when you exercise?
(Science Focus)
Different parts of the body are activated when you exercise. Your brain starts creating more serotonin, GABA, and dopamine, which makes it more energized during workouts.
As your adrenaline levels rise, so does your heart rate; blood flow is increased by up to 20 times. Your lungs help your body intake 15 times more oxygen, making breathing faster but also deeper.
Your sweat glands are activated, too, and can produce even up to 1.4 liters of sweat per hour. When it comes to your muscles, they squeeze the veins, thus pumping the blood back to the heart. Finally, your bones are also affected by exercise. It reduces the loss of calcium and encourages bone formation.
What is the most popular exercise activity in the US?
(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
When it comes to people from the US, a poll showed that 30% of those aged 15 and up prefer walking as exercise, making it the most popular activity. Basketball was the most popular team exercise activity, with 5.1% of respondents saying they would choose this activity on an average day.
Conclusion
It surely is more interesting to spend your social distancing time in front of the TV or laptop, but just think about it. 2021 may just be the perfect time for you to make a change in your life — you may never have more free time than now.
Even though these exercise statistics show us that people are prone to insufficient physical activity, they also teach us it’s never too late for a change. The benefits of exercise are evident at both the physical and psychological levels, leaving you with enough motivation to start your routine.
Sources:
- Bachelor’s Degree Online
- Fairfield PA Schools
- Healthy People
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
- My Lungs My Life
- National Centre for Biotechnological Information
- National Centre for Biotechnological Information
- National Centre for Biotechnological Information
- National Centre for Biotechnological Information
- National Health Service
- Science Focus
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- World Health Organization
- World Health Organization
- World Health Organization
