OBJECTIVES: This study explored the limitations of identifying sedentary individuals via an existing screening question in a state-based surveillance system. METHODS: A national sample (n = 7529) of adults, selected by random-digit dialing between November 1999 and May 2000, responded about participation in leisure-time physical activity. RESULTS: Of those who initially reported no leisure-time physical activity (25%), 85% were engaging in at least some activity, and 20% were engaging in enough moderate- or vigorous-intensity activity to meet health-related recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Public health programs that use only 1 screening question to identify sedentary behavior may not be able to target physical activity messages effectively, especially if physical activity is defined to include a broad range of activities beyond sports.
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Macera et al. (2001) studied this question.