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The Effect Of Physical Inactivity On The United States

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Relevance of Physical Inactivity in the United States
In 2009, the World Health Organization released a report highlighting the 10 leading risk factors for death and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), utilizing data from 2004 (Global Health Risks, 2009). According to the report, physical inactivity was the fourth leading cause of death in high income countries, resulting in 0.6 million deaths and 7.7% of total deaths throughout the world. Additionally, the data showed physical inactivity to be the sixth leading cause of disability-adjusted life years in high income countries, resulting in 5 million DALYs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that less than half of American adults get the recommended amount of physical activity, as defined by the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines established by the US Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control, 2013). In addition, the American Heart Association reports that the 2011 National Health Interview Survey showed 32% of adults in the United States did not participate in leisure time activity, and only 21% of adults in the United States participate in adequate amounts of both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity (American Heart Association, 2013).
Diseases and conditions associated with physical inactivity include heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and obesity, among others (Global Health Risks, 2009). Researchers have reported that, after excluding pregnant individuals and

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