Practical Strategies for Assessing Patient Physical Activity Levels in Primary Care

Abstract

Physical inactivity in the United States is a highly prevalent and pressing public health concern that is associated with increased risk of mortality, a broad range of chronic diseases, and substantial economic burden. Given the growing levels of physical inactivity seen in our society, its impact on adverse health outcomes, and its economic and societal cost, it is important that evidence-based approaches be implemented to increase physical activity (PA) among the US population. One such strategy may be to promote the adop-tion of large-scale routine PA assessment as a first step toward more comprehensive PA coun-seling during the primary care visit.