Background: Surveillance is a core function of public health, and approaches to national surveillance of physical activity and sedentary behavior have evolved over the past 2 decades. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of surveillance of physical activity and sedentary behavior in the United States over the past 2 decades, along with related challenges and emerging opportunities. Methods: The authors reviewed key national surveillance systems for the assessment of physical activity and sedentary behavior among youth and adults in the United States between 2000 and 2019. Results: Over the past 20 years, 8 surveillance systems have assessed physical activity, and 5 of those have assessed sedentary behavior. Three of the 8 originated in nonpublic health agencies. Most systems have assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior via surveys. However, survey questions varied over time within and also across systems, resulting in a wide array of available data. Conclusion: The evolving nature of physical activity surveillance in the United States has resulted in both broad challenges (eg, balancing content with survey space; providing data at the national, state, and local level; adapting traditional physical activity measures and survey designs; and addressing variation across surveillance systems) and related opportunities.
CITATION STYLE
Omura, J. D., Whitfield, G. P., Chen, T. J., Hyde, E. T., Ussery, E. N., Watson, K. B., & Carlson, S. A. (2021, August 1). Surveillance of physical activity and sedentary behavior among youth and adults in the United States: History and opportunities. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. Human Kinetics Publishers Inc. https://doi.org/10.1123/JPAH.2021-0179
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