PHOM Indicator Profile Report of Physical activity among adolescents

Why Is This Important?

Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve their overall health, such as cardiorespiratory fitness, strengthen bones and muscles, control weight, and reduce symptoms associated with anxiety and depression. Physical activity has also been shown to reduce the risk of developing certain health conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.^1^ Since diet and physical activity have been shown to help reduce and maintain weight, monitoring physical activity levels in adolescents is important. According to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), 27.7% of Utah public high school students were at or above the 85th percentile for body mass index, by age and sex. The recommendation based on the most current HHS Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans is:^2^ Children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 years should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily: * Aerobic: Most of the 60 minutes or more per day should be either moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity and should include vigorous-intensity physical activity on at least 3 days a week. * Muscle-strengthening: As part of their 60 minutes or more of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include muscle-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days a week. * Bone-strengthening: As part of their 60 minutes or more of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include bone-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days a week.[[br]] [[br]] ---- 1. CDC [https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/facts.htm/ Physical Activity Facts][[br]] 2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/physical-activity-guidelines/current-guidelines/ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2nd Edition]

The CDC recommends that children and adolescents should participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity for 60 minutes every day.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)

Data Notes

** Utah data not available from 2015 due to insufficient participation according to CDC criteria.

How Are We Doing?

In 2023, 24.3% of boys and 14.3% of girls in Utah high schools reported getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity on all 7 days of the week according to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The 2023 Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA) survey reported that 18% of adolescents in grades 8, 10, and 12 participated in at least 60 minutes of physical activity in the 7 days before survey administration. Those in Summit County (28.6%), TriCounty (28.2%), and Central Utah (22.3%) health districts had higher rates of physical activity than the state. Utah County Local Health District (16.9%) reported the lowest rate of physical activity, although the difference was not statistically significant. Students in rural areas of the state were slightly more likely to report participating in 7 or more days of physical activity (19.6%) than their urban counterparts (17.5%).

What Is Being Done?

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services Healthy Environments Active Living (HEAL) Program plays a key role in improving the health of residents in the state of Utah. The program was formed in July 2013 (as Healthy Living through Environment, Policy, and Improved Clinical Care: EPICC), through a new funding opportunity from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This allowed for the merging of three previously existing programs: the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, and the Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Program, as well as the addition of a school health program. HEAL was recently restructured as part of a strategic planning process. This new program model focuses on staff and partners working together to address the social determinants of health while advancing health equity and increasing policy, systems, and environmental changes. HEAL works: In schools:[[br]] HEAL encourages [https://heal.utah.gov/schools/ schools] to adopt the [https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/professional_development/e-learning/CSPAP/index.html/ Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program]. This framework encourages students to be physically active for 60 minutes a day through school, home, and community activities. HEAL also works with schools to apply the [https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/wscc/index.htm/ Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model], which emphasizes the role of the community in supporting academic and health success for students. In worksites:[[br]] HEAL offers training on developing worksite wellness programs called Work@Health. HEAL partners with local health departments to encourage worksites to complete the CDC Scorecard and participate in yearly health risk assessments for their employees. HEAL provides toolkits and other resources for employers interested in implementing wellness programs at [https://heal.utah.gov/worksite-wellness/ Worksite Wellness]. In communities:[[br]] HEAL receives federal funding to partner with worksites, community-based organizations, and local health departments to increase access to [https://heal.utah.gov/nutrition/ fresh fruits and vegetables] in worksite and community settings. HEAL also partners with local health departments to work with cities and/or counties within their jurisdictions to foster a built environment that encourages [https://heal.utah.gov/physical-activity/ physical activity]. In healthcare:[[br]] HEAL works with health care systems to establish community clinical linkages to support individuals [https://heal.utah.gov/diabetes/ at risk for or diagnosed with diabetes] or hypertension to engage in lifestyle change programs such as chronic disease self-management and diabetes prevention programs. In childcare:[[br]] HEAL works with state and local partners through the Childcare Obesity Prevention workgroup to implement policy and systems changes in early care and education across agencies statewide. Ten local health departments statewide have implemented the [https://heal.utah.gov/top-star-providers/ TOP Star Program], which aims to improve the nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding policies and environments to achieve best practices in childcare centers and homes.