• In 2007, about 31 percent of Americans age 18 or older reported regular leisure-time physical activity.
  
• The relative risk of coronary heart disease associated with physical inactivity ranges from 1.5 to 2.4, an increase in risk comparable to that observed for high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure or cigarette smoking. (JAMA, 1995;273:402--407)

Overweight and Obesity
Using a body mass index (BMI) of 25.0 or higher as “overweight” and a BMI of 30.0 or higher as “obese,” 145,000,000 American adults age 20 and older are considered overweight (76,900,000 men and 68,100,000 women) and 74,100,000 are considered obese (34,700,000 men and 39,400,000 women). In addition, an estimated 23,400,000 children ages 2–19 are considered overweight and obese (based on the 95th percentile of BMI values). (NHANES 2005–06, CDC/NCHS)

• Using the 95th percentile of BMI values, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among American children ages 2–19 is (NHANES 2005–06, CDC/NCHS):
  
  • For non-Hispanic whites, 31.9 percent for boys and 29.5 percent for girls.
    
  • For non-Hispanic blacks, 30.8 percent for boys and 39.2 percent for girls.
    
  • For Mexican Americans, 40.8 percent for boys and 35.0 percent for girls.
    
• Using the 95th percentile of BMI values, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among American adolescents ages 2–19 is (NHANES 2005–06, CDC/NCHS):
  
  • For non-Hispanic whites, 15.6 percent for boys and 13.6 percent for girls.
    
  • For non-Hispanic blacks, 17.4 percent for boys and 24.1 percent for girls.
    
  • For Mexican Americans, 23.2 percent for boys and 18.5 percent for girls.
• Among adults age 20 and older (with a BMI of 25.0 and higher to indicate overweight and a BMI of 30.0 or higher to indicate obesity), the age-adjusted (2000 standard) prevalences are (NHANES 2005–06, CDC/NCHS):
  
  • For non-Hispanic whites, 74.4 percent of men and 57.5 percent of women are overweight and obese; 32.3 percent of men and 32.7 percent of women are obese.
    
  • For non-Hispanic blacks, 73.7 percent of men and 77.7 percent of women are overweight and obese; 36.8 percent of men and 52.9 percent of women are obese.
    
  • For Mexican Americans, 74.8 percent of men and 73.0 percent of women are overweight and obese; 26.8 percent of men and 41.9 percent of women are obese.
    
• Among adults age 18 and older, the following people are overweight (defined as a BMI of 25 kg/m² or higher) (NHIS [2006], CDC/NCHS):
  
  • For non-Hispanic whites, 34.5 percent.
    
  • For non-Hispanic blacks, 33.7 percent.
    
  • For Hispanics, 39.6 percent.
    
  • For Asians only, 27.6 percent.