This indicator measures the percentage of Chittenden County adults who meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity. Almost one third of adults are not meeting the recommendations. The recommendation is at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of moderate intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking. Engaging in regular physical activity helps people achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Most communities are designed to accommodate the automobile as the primary mode of transportation. For decades communities designed in this way have de-emphasized alternative forms of transport such as walking, bicycling and mass transit. Healthy Community Design, a newer paradigm in municipal planning, takes a holistic approach to community design. It incorporates features that increase the opportunity for daily physical activity and recreation. To get a closer look at Healthy Community Design principles and additional benefits go to http://healthvermont.gov/family/fit/documents/acti...

Adults with lower income are less likely to meet physical activity recommendations. To compare physical activity rates among lower income adults with rates among higher income adults, click on this indicator to make it full screen, then click the Toggle Comparison button. FPL is used to determine eligibility for government assistance programs. People living below 250% FPL, for example, are still considered low income, often lacking sufficient income to meet basic needs.

Community design plays an important role in improving access to physical activity. Municipalities should regularly and periodically conduct an assessment to identify policies or infrastructure that limits walk-able mixed use development. Assessment results should be used to revise policy and develop plans to address infrastructure barriers. Research shows that people living in highly walk-able, mixed-use communities are more than twice as likely to get 30 or more minutes of daily exercise as those living in auto-oriented, single-use areas. As street connectivity and residential density increases, the amount of physical activity typical residents get each day increases Additionally, access to public transportation also positively impacts physical activity levels. People who used public transportation for any reason were less likely to be sedentary or obese than adults who did not use public transportation. With few exceptions, proximity to public transit stops was linked to higher transit use and higher levels of physical activity among adults.

Due to BRFSS weighting methodology changes beginning in 2011, comparisons between data collected in 2011 and later and that from 2010 and earlier should be made with caution. Differences between data from 2011 forward and earlier years may be due to methodological changes, rather than changes in opinion or behavior.

This indicator is age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. In U.S. data, age adjustment is used for comparison of regions with varying age breakdowns. In order to remain consistent with the methods of comparison at a national level, some statistics in Vermont were age adjusted. In cases where age adjustment was noted as being part of the statistical analysis, the estimates were adjusted based on the proportional age breakdowns of the U.S. population in 2000. For more detailed information on age adjustment visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/statnt/statnt20.pdf.

Vermont Department of Health

Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission

Local Community Coalitions

Vermont Department of Health, Burlington District Office, Physical Activity and Nutrition Program