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Physical inactivity remains a risk factor for poor health including the development of obesity. Under the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Guidelines, the minimum recommended aerobic
physical activity required to produce substantial health benefits in adults is 150 minutes of moderateintensity
activity per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week, or an equivalent
combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity. In 2007, only 57.2% of Latinos or
Hispanics reported meeting their recommended requirement for physical activity. This is an important point in terms of the
Latino’s likelihood to
get other co-orbidities
such as diabetes, cancer
and cardiovascular disease,
among others.
The following chart is
from the NHANES III
longitudinal study from 1988-1994 which suggested that almost 40% of Latinos did not perform any
leisure-time physical activity. In this report almost 70% of those interviewed were Latino women and
they preferred activities such as walking and gardening.
 The least preferred activities in
regard to physical activities among
Latinos were swimming, aerobics
and jogging. And of course, physical
inactivity has a strong link with the
acculturation level in this ethnic
group.
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