Quick Facts

Physical Activity Facts - About Alaskan Adults *

• Twenty one percent of Alaskan adults (18.5% of men and 23.9% of women) report no leisure time physical activity.
• A little more than half of Alaskan adults participate in moderate physical activity (30 or more minutes a day 5 or more times per week) or vigorous physical activity for 20 or more minutes a day 3 times or more a week.
• Approximately 23% of Alaskan adults participate in moderate physical activity only.
• An estimated 33.8% of Alaskan adults (39.7% of men and 27.4% of women) participate in vigorous physical activity for 20 or more minutes per day 3 times a week.
• Sixty three percent of Alaskan adults are overweight or obese. (41.2% are overweight and 21% are obese based on body mass index)

Physical Activity Facts - About Alaskan Youth *

• Among Alaska high school students, 74.8% of boys and 60.4% of girls report having participated in vigorous physical activity on 3 or more of the past seven days. Rates have declined since 1995.
• Approximately 22% (21.8%) of Alaska high school boys and 14.3% of high school girls report attending daily physical education classes.
• Among Alaska high school students, 11% are overweight (13.7% of boys and 8.1% of girls) and 14.4% are at risk for becoming overweight (15.1% of boys and 13.7% of girls).
• Among Alaska high school students, 28.6% of boys and 26.3% of girls reported having watched 3 or more hours of television during an average school day.

* Sources:
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology. Health Risks in Alaska Among Adults, Alaska Behavioral Risk Factor Survey 2000/2001 Annual Report. December 2003

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology. Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2003.