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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Increase the proportion of children who do enough aerobic physical activity — PA‑09 Data

National Status: Getting worse

  
Learn more about our data release schedule

Most Recent Data:
22.7 percent (2022-23)

National Target:
30.3 percent  1

Desired Direction:
Increase desired

National Baseline:
25.8 percent of children aged 6 to 13 years met the current aerobic physical activity guideline in 2016-17 2

Disparities data are only available for some selections.

View CI in the chart by hovering over a data point.

View SE in the chart by hovering over a data point.

Confidence Interval (CI) not available Standard Error (SE) not available Confidence Interval (CI) and Standard Error (SE) are not available

Display data for:

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines, 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
Total
25.8
CI 24.6 / 27.0
SE 0.602
25.5
CI 24.4 / 26.6
SE 0.552
23.6
CI 22.7 / 24.5
SE 0.456
22.7
CI 21.9 / 23.5
SE 0.397

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Sex, 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
Male
28.4
CI 26.8 / 30.0
SE 0.833
27.4
CI 25.9 / 29.0
SE 0.786
26.6
CI 25.3 / 28.0
SE 0.684
25.5
CI 24.4 / 26.7
SE 0.578
Female
23.0
CI 21.4 / 24.8
SE 0.873
23.5
CI 22.0 / 25.0
SE 0.777
20.5
CI 19.4 / 21.7
SE 0.590
19.7
CI 18.6 / 20.7
SE 0.539

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Race/Ethnicity, 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
American Indian or Alaska Native only
33.2
CI 21.5 / 47.3
SE 6.725
31.2
CI 22.5 / 41.4
SE 4.868
25.0
CI 18.4 / 33.1
SE 3.761
24.8
CI 19.0 / 31.6
SE 3.227
Asian only
15.7
CI 12.4 / 19.6
SE 1.835
18.4
CI 13.9 / 24.1
SE 2.593
17.3
CI 14.0 / 21.3
SE 1.868
15.0
CI 13.0 / 17.3
SE 1.111
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only
17.4
CI 8.1 / 33.4
SE 6.367
17.8
CI 9.1 / 31.7
SE 5.713
24.0
CI 10.9 / 44.9
SE 8.820
23.6
CI 14.3 / 36.4
SE 5.670
Black or African American only
25.2
CI 22.0 / 28.6
SE 1.682
23.4
CI 20.7 / 26.4
SE 1.442
19.9
CI 17.6 / 22.4
SE 1.246
21.0
CI 18.5 / 23.7
SE 1.326
White only
26.4
CI 25.1 / 27.8
SE 0.707
26.4
CI 25.2 / 27.7
SE 0.649
24.7
CI 23.7 / 25.8
SE 0.537
23.5
CI 22.6 / 24.4
SE 0.463
2 or more races
26.6
CI 22.4 / 31.4
SE 2.305
25.0
CI 21.1 / 29.5
SE 2.158
23.8
CI 20.7 / 27.2
SE 1.639
23.2
CI 20.9 / 25.7
SE 1.238
Hispanic or Latino
22.6
CI 19.6 / 26.0
SE 1.646
22.6
CI 19.9 / 25.7
SE 1.472
18.5
CI 16.4 / 20.8
SE 1.138
18.3
CI 16.7 / 20.0
SE 0.864
Not Hispanic or Latino
26.9
CI 25.8 / 28.0
SE 0.564
26.5
CI 25.5 / 27.5
SE 0.533
25.4
CI 24.5 / 26.4
SE 0.464
24.2
CI 23.4 / 25.1
SE 0.438
American Indian or Alaska Native only, not Hispanic or Latino
30.7
CI 19.8 / 44.4
SE 6.375
37.3
CI 28.0 / 47.7
SE 5.088
32.8
CI 24.2 / 42.7
SE 4.760
32.5
CI 24.8 / 41.2
SE 4.230
Asian only, not Hispanic or Latino
15.4
CI 12.3 / 19.3
SE 1.787
16.4
CI 13.1 / 20.4
SE 1.864
17.2
CI 13.8 / 21.3
SE 1.929
14.6
CI 12.5 / 16.8
SE 1.100
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only, not Hispanic or Latino
26.9
CI 13.4 / 46.8
SE 8.727
23.6
CI 9.7 / 47.1
SE 9.736
28.0
CI 16.6 / 43.1
SE 6.876
29.8
CI 19.1 / 43.4
SE 6.302
Black or African American only, not Hispanic or Latino
26.8
CI 23.5 / 30.4
SE 1.765
23.9
CI 21.0 / 27.0
SE 1.516
19.4
CI 17.0 / 22.0
SE 1.273
21.1
CI 18.4 / 24.0
SE 1.426
White only, not Hispanic or Latino
27.7
CI 26.6 / 29.0
SE 0.616
28.3
CI 27.1 / 29.5
SE 0.608
27.6
CI 26.6 / 28.7
SE 0.533
26.2
CI 25.2 / 27.1
SE 0.502
2 or more races, not Hispanic or Latino
27.9
CI 23.7 / 32.5
SE 2.248
23.2
CI 19.6 / 27.3
SE 1.987
25.6
CI 22.2 / 29.3
SE 1.805
22.9
CI 20.5 / 25.6
SE 1.305

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Age group, 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
6-9 years
30.3
CI 28.5 / 32.1
SE 0.914
29.9
CI 28.3 / 31.5
SE 0.818
29.5
CI 28.1 / 30.9
SE 0.723
28.8
CI 27.6 / 30.0
SE 0.614
10-13 years
21.3
CI 19.8 / 22.8
SE 0.772
21.3
CI 19.9 / 22.8
SE 0.753
18.2
CI 17.2 / 19.3
SE 0.552
16.9
CI 15.9 / 17.9
SE 0.492

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Educational attainment (of most highly educated adult, 25 years and over), 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
Less than High school
27.8
CI 22.4 / 33.9
SE 2.943
22.6
CI 18.0 / 27.8
SE 2.492
25.9
CI 21.0 / 31.5
SE 2.673
20.4
CI 17.3 / 24.0
SE 1.714
High school
27.1
CI 24.2 / 30.3
SE 1.554
29.4
CI 26.5 / 32.5
SE 1.514
23.8
CI 21.6 / 26.1
SE 1.157
25.0
CI 22.9 / 27.2
SE 1.094
Some college or Associate degree
28.7
CI 26.3 / 31.3
SE 1.269
27.9
CI 25.6 / 30.3
SE 1.195
24.7
CI 22.9 / 26.6
SE 0.946
25.1
CI 23.2 / 27.1
SE 0.995
4-year college degree or more
23.4
CI 22.1 / 24.8
SE 0.695
23.3
CI 22.2 / 24.6
SE 0.618
22.6
CI 21.7 / 23.7
SE 0.515
21.4
CI 20.5 / 22.3
SE 0.470

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Family income (percent poverty threshold), 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
<100
31.0
CI 27.5 / 34.7
SE 1.835
28.5
CI 25.5 / 31.7
SE 1.598
25.9
CI 22.9 / 29.2
SE 1.577
24.9
CI 22.6 / 27.3
SE 1.207
100-199
25.7
CI 23.1 / 28.6
SE 1.404
26.1
CI 23.3 / 29.2
SE 1.485
23.4
CI 21.2 / 25.8
SE 1.176
23.8
CI 21.8 / 25.8
SE 1.015
200-399
24.1
CI 22.2 / 26.1
SE 1.007
24.9
CI 23.0 / 27.0
SE 1.023
23.4
CI 21.7 / 25.1
SE 0.866
21.4
CI 19.9 / 23.1
SE 0.794
400+
23.4
CI 21.9 / 25.0
SE 0.790
23.6
CI 22.1 / 25.2
SE 0.778
22.7
CI 21.3 / 24.1
SE 0.700
21.9
CI 20.8 / 23.1
SE 0.584

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Health insurance status, 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
Insured
25.5
CI 24.3 / 26.7
SE 0.613
25.2
CI 24.1 / 26.3
SE 0.556
23.4
CI 22.5 / 24.4
SE 0.464
22.6
CI 21.8 / 23.4
SE 0.400
Private
24.1
CI 22.9 / 25.4
SE 0.640
24.2
CI 23.0 / 25.4
SE 0.609
22.8
CI 21.8 / 23.8
SE 0.524
21.5
CI 20.6 / 22.4
SE 0.439
Public
27.7
CI 25.4 / 30.2
SE 1.222
27.4
CI 25.3 / 29.6
SE 1.101
24.2
CI 22.5 / 26.0
SE 0.880
24.4
CI 22.9 / 26.0
SE 0.776
Uninsured
28.9
CI 23.6 / 34.9
SE 2.897
28.5
CI 23.3 / 34.2
SE 2.770
26.8
CI 22.7 / 31.3
SE 2.184
23.9
CI 20.0 / 28.2
SE 2.087

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Geographic location, 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
Metropolitan
25.0
CI 23.7 / 26.3
SE 0.657
24.5
CI 23.3 / 25.7
SE 0.599
22.6
CI 21.6 / 23.5
SE 0.493
21.8
CI 21.0 / 22.6
SE 0.425
Non-metropolitan
32.0
CI 29.5 / 34.5
SE 1.283
32.5
CI 30.0 / 35.1
SE 1.313
31.0
CI 28.8 / 33.3
SE 1.156
29.3
CI 27.2 / 31.4
SE 1.089

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Marital status (of parents, 18 years and over), 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
Married/​Cohabiting partner
25.2
CI 23.9 / 26.6
SE 0.697
25.0
CI 23.8 / 26.3
SE 0.643
23.2
CI 22.2 / 24.3
SE 0.520
22.7
CI 21.9 / 23.6
SE 0.447
Divorced, separated, widowed
23.6
CI 20.4 / 27.2
SE 1.750
23.4
CI 20.7 / 26.3
SE 1.425
22.5
CI 19.8 / 25.4
SE 1.440
20.4
CI 17.9 / 23.2
SE 1.339
Never married
31.6
CI 27.0 / 36.6
SE 2.461
27.7
CI 23.6 / 32.1
SE 2.171
26.4
CI 22.8 / 30.3
SE 1.905
24.9
CI 21.7 / 28.4
SE 1.704

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Country of birth (of parents), 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
US
27.8
CI 26.5 / 29.0
SE 0.633
27.2
CI 26.0 / 28.4
SE 0.623
25.8
CI 24.8 / 26.9
SE 0.520
24.7
CI 23.8 / 25.7
SE 0.470
Outside US
19.8
CI 17.1 / 22.8
SE 1.445
19.8
CI 17.5 / 22.3
SE 1.234
17.4
CI 15.5 / 19.5
SE 1.032
17.6
CI 16.0 / 19.3
SE 0.833

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Veteran status (of parents, 20 years and over), 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
Veteran
DNA
24.4
CI 20.8 / 28.4
SE 1.936
21.0
CI 18.3 / 24.0
SE 1.462
24.7
CI 21.7 / 27.9
SE 1.568
Non-veteran
DNA
25.0
CI 23.9 / 26.2
SE 0.593
23.5
CI 22.5 / 24.5
SE 0.498
22.5
CI 21.6 / 23.3
SE 0.428

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Disability status, 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
Disability status
DNA
DNA
DNA
DNA

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Obesity status, 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
With obesity
22.5
CI 19.5 / 25.8
SE 1.621
20.0
CI 17.5 / 22.9
SE 1.383
18.1
CI 16.2 / 20.2
SE 1.014
19.1
CI 17.2 / 21.2
SE 1.021
Without obesity
26.7
CI 25.4 / 28.1
SE 0.689
26.5
CI 25.3 / 27.7
SE 0.620
24.9
CI 23.9 / 25.9
SE 0.521
23.2
CI 22.4 / 24.1
SE 0.431

Children meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines by Special health care needs, 2016-17 to 2022-23 ◊
(percent)
Increase desired

Population 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23
Yes
23.9
CI 21.9 / 25.9
SE 1.026
23.7
CI 22.0 / 25.5
SE 0.887
21.9
CI 20.4 / 23.4
SE 0.758
20.2
CI 18.9 / 21.5
SE 0.679
No
26.5
CI 25.1 / 27.9
SE 0.734
26.2
CI 24.8 / 27.5
SE 0.685
24.3
CI 23.2 / 25.4
SE 0.558
23.7
CI 22.7 / 24.7
SE 0.486

Disparity