2009 Georgia Data Summary: 
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN ADULTS 
 
Lack of regular physical activity can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, diabetes, arthritis and poor mental health. 
 
Adults do not get enough regular physical activity. 
 
Percentage of regularly active* adults in Georgia  Only 40% of adults are regularly active 
 Normal weight adults (49%) are more likely to be regularly active than overweight (44%) or obese adults (35%) 
 Across all racial groups, men (51%) are more regularly active than women (45%) 
 
Percent 
 
100 
80 
60 
40 
40 
20 
 
Percent of regularly active adults in Georgia, 2001-2007 
 
National Goal: 50% 
 
49 44 35 
 
43 31 30 
 
55 47 44 
 
 Among men, Hispanic men (55%) have a higher prevalence of regular physical activity than black and white men (44% and 47%) 
 White women (43%) are more likely to be regularly active than either black women (31%) or Hispanic women (30%) 
 
0 
Overall 
 
NormOavlerweight Obese 
 
hite W 
 
omen omen WBl ac kHWis pa nic 
 
Women 
 
hite W 
 
MBenlackHMisepnanic 
 
Men 
 
Policies and environments in communities, worksites, and health care settings impact physical activity behaviors in adults. 
Communities  Adults with a safe and convenient place to walk in their community are more likely to be regularly active (42%) than 
adults without a safe place to walk (27%) 
 Neighborhood sidewalks and streets, public parks, school tracks, fitness centers, and walking trails, are the most common places to walk among adults in Georgia 
Worksites  In Georgia 40% of worksites have organizational policies or programs to encourage employees to be regularly active 
Health care#  Most health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in Georgia have policies to support physical activity by providing 
educational material, counseling, or discounts or fee reductions to join programs to all members 
 Only one HMO in Georgia has a policy to reimburse providers and paid members for physical activity assessments and counseling from specialists 
Physical inactivity cost Georgia $599 million in hospital charges in 2007. 
 Physical inactivity has had a severe health and economic impact on the state. In 2007, insufficient activity and inactivity were responsible for: 
 
- 2,774 deaths 
 
- 17,213 hospitalizations 
 
- $599 million in hospital charges 
 
Definition of regular physical activity: *30+ minutes of moderate physical activity on 5 or more days per week or 20+ minutes of vigorous physical activity on 3 or more days per week. 
 
Data sources:  2001-07 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System  2001 Georgia Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System 
 
 2008 Georgia Worksite Survey 
 
# 2004 Georgia Health Plan Survey 
 
 2007 Georgia Vital Statistics 
 
 2007 Georgia Hospital Discharge Data 
 
Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Public Health  2 Peachtree Street, NW  Atlanta, GA 30303  (404) 657-3103  gdphinfo@dhr.state.ga.us  http://health.state.ga.us