Fitness Pudding - Where The Proof Is
Is Lack of Time Really a Barrier to Physical Activity?
Easily, the leading barrier to physical activity I have heard over my career is ‘lack of time’. But, is time really a barrier to physical activity?
In one of my favorite studies on his issue, 24-hour activity diaries found adult women spent 28 hours per week in sedentary leisure-time activity.1 In other words, their reports that lack of time is a barrier do not reflect actual time available for physical activity, and might not be a valid excuse for staying inactive.
Recently, diaries of over 32,000 Americans showed that on average, they had more than 5 hours of free time per day, with little variation by age or income.2 By far, most of that free time, up to nearly 70%, was spent on screen time.
Remember, the minimal prescription for health is only 30-minutes per day of a moderate intensity activity. That still leaves 4.5 hours of free time each day.
So, the question that many, and perhaps you, need to wrestle with is, do I not have the free time for physical activity, or do I not use the free time I do have?
References
- Heesch, K. C., & Mâsse, L. C. (2004). Lack of time for physical activity: Perception or reality for African American and Hispanic women?. Women and Health, 39(3), 45-62.
- Sturm, R., & Cohen, D. A. (2019). Free time and physical activity among Americans 15 years or older: Cross-sectional analysis of the American time use survey. Preventing Chronic Disease, 16, E133.
