Definition

Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who reported doing muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days of the week.

Numerator

Number of adults aged 18 years and older who reported doing muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days of the week.

Denominator

Number of surveyed adults aged 18 years and older.

Data Interpretation Issues

This question was new in 2011. In 2011, the BRFSS changed its methodology from a landline only sample and weighting based on post-stratification to a landline/cell phone sample and raking as the weighting methodology. Raking accounts for variables such as income, education, marital status, and home ownership during weighting and has the potential to more accurately reflect the population distribution. More details about these changes can be found at: [https://ibis.health.utah.gov/pdf/opha/resource/brfss/RakingImpact2011.pdf].

Why Is This Important?

The predominant benefits of muscle-strengthening activities include improved bone health, reduced risk of falls in older adults, improved daily energy and sleep, and improved posture. Muscle-strengthening activities also help prevent diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. This is done through improving insulin sensitivity, metabolizing glucose in general, and improving blood pressure and gastrointestinal transit time.

Healthy People Objective PA-2.3:

Increase the proportion of adults who perform muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days of the week
U.S. Target: 24.1 percent

How Are We Doing?

The first BRFSS data on muscle-strengthening activity became available in 2011. The age-adjusted rate for 2011 was 31.4% and has increased to 32.8% in 2017.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Compared to the nation, Utah adults report doing more muscle-strengthening activity. In 2017, 32.8% of Utah adults reported doing muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days of the week (age-adjusted). In 2017, the national rate was 30.5%.

What Is Being Done?

The Healthy Living through Environment, Policy, and Improved Clinical Care Program (EPICC) was established through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). EPICC focuses on Environmental Approaches that Promote Health, specifically promoting policies around healthy eating and active living. EPICC works: In Schools:[[br]] 1) Schools are encouraged to adopt the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program. This framework encourages students to be physically active for 60 minutes a day through school, home and community activities.[[br]] 2) Height and weight trends are being tracked in a sample of elementary students to monitor Utah students.[[br]] 3) Action for Healthy Kids brings partners together to improve nutrition and physical activity environments in Utah's schools by implementing the school-based state plan strategies, working with local school boards to improve or develop policies for nutritious foods in schools. This includes recommendations for healthy vending options. In Worksites:[[br]] 1) The Utah Health Improvement Plan--a public and private partnership--has selected worksites as their priority for the goal of Preventing Obesity and Related Chronic Conditions. A smaller workgroup, UHIP-O, works to create a Culture of Health within businesses in the state of Utah. 2) The Utah Council for Worksite Health Promotion recognizes businesses that offer employee fitness and health promotion programs.[[br]] 3) EPICC partners with local health departments to encourage worksites to complete the CDC Scorecard and participate in yearly health risk assessment for their employees. EPICC provides toolkits and other resources for employers interested in implementing wellness programs through the [http://choosehealth.utah.gov choosehealth.utah.gov] website: [http://choosehealth.utah.gov/worksites/why-worksite-wellness.php] -- In Communities:[[br]] 1) Local health departments (LHDs) receive federal funding to partner with schools, worksites, and other community based organizations to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables through food service guidelines, farmers markets and retail stores. LHDs also work with cities within their jurisdictions to create a built environment that encourages physical activity. In Healthcare:[[br]] 1) EPICC works with health care systems to establish community clinical linkages to support individuals at risk for or diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension to engage in lifestyle change programs such as chronic disease self-management and diabetes prevention programs. In Childcare:[[br]] 1) Ten local health departments statewide have implemented the TOP Star program, which aims to improve the nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding environments and achieve best practice in child care centers and homes.[[br]] 2) EPICC works with state and local partners through the Childcare Obesity Prevention workgroup to implement policy and systems changes in early care and education across agencies statewide.

Evidence-based Practices

The EPICC program promotes evidence based practices collected by the Center TRT. The Center for Training and Research Translation (Center TRT) bridges the gap between research and practice and supports the efforts of public health practitioners working in nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention by: *Reviewing evidence of public health impact and disseminating population-level interventions; *Designing and providing practice-relevant training both in-person and web-based; *Addressing social determinants of health and health equity through training and translation efforts; and, *Providing guidance on evaluating policies and programs aimed at impacting healthy eating and physical activity.[[br]] [[br]] Appropriate evidence based interventions can be found at: [http://www.centertrt.org/?p=interventions_interventions_overview]

Available Services

Visit [http://www.choosehealth.utah.gov] for more information. Resource locater is also found here [http://choosehealth.utah.gov/your-health/resource-locator.php]. One aspect of chronic disease management is regular physical activity. Lifestyle change program information can be found here [http://choosehealth.utah.gov/your-health/lifestyle-change.php]

Relevant Population Characteristics

There are age, gender, and socio-economic related risk factors associated with engaging in muscle strengthening activity.

Health Care System Factors

Health care system factors relate to access to care and a reported low rate of health care provider counseling for physical activity recommendations Communication between patients and their physicians may be an opportunity to encourage patients to increase physical activity including muscle strengthening.

Risk Factors

Low education and being female are associated with lower rates of participation in recommended amount of muscle-strengthening activity.

Health Status Outcomes

Progressive muscle-strengthening activities increase or preserve muscle mass, strength, and power. Higher amounts (through greater frequency or higher weights) improve muscle function.

The percentage of adults meeting the recommended amount of muscle-strengthening activity is consistently higher in Utah than for the U.S. but the difference is slight. In 2017, 32.8% of Utah adults met the recommended amount, compared to the U.S. rate of 30.5%.

Data Notes

In 2016, Utah BRFSS modified its methodology for age adjustment for increased precision. With this change Utah is consistent with both the U.S. and other states using IBIS. Charts have been updated from 2011 forward to reflect this change.   Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 population.

Meeting recommended amount of muscle-strengthening activity was highest among males and females aged 18-34. And, while rates decreased with age for both up to age 64, males aged 65+ had slightly higher rates of activity.

Data Notes

In 2016, Utah BRFSS modified its methodology for age adjustment for increased precision. With this change Utah is consistent with both the U.S. and other states using IBIS. Charts have been updated from 2011 forward to reflect this change.

Data Source

Utah Data: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Office of Public Health Assessment, Utah Department of Health

Hispanic adults had lower rates of meeting the recommended amount of muscle-strengthening than non-Hispanic adults and Utah adults overall.

Data Notes

In 2016, Utah BRFSS modified its methodology for age adjustment for increased precision. With this change Utah is consistent with both the U.S. and other states using IBIS. Charts have been updated from 2011 forward to reflect this change.   Age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.

Data Source

Utah Data: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Office of Public Health Assessment, Utah Department of Health

None of the groups above showed statistical difference in rates of the recommended amount of muscle-strengthening except the "Other" category which had the lowest reported rate.

Data Notes

In 2016, Utah BRFSS modified its methodology for age adjustment for increased precision. With this change Utah is consistent with both the U.S. and other states using IBIS. Charts have been updated from 2011 forward to reflect this change.   Age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population based on 3 age groups: 18-34, 35-49, and 50+.

Data Source

Utah Data: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Office of Public Health Assessment, Utah Department of Health

All local health districts were within six percentage points of the state rate of 32.8%. Summit County Local Health District continues to have a higher rate compared to the state total. (Prior years available in [https://ibis.health.utah.gov/query/builder/brfss/LandlineCellAgeAdj5_Muscle/Muscle.html IBIS Query].)

Data Notes

In 2016, Utah BRFSS modified its methodology for age adjustment for increased precision. With this change Utah is consistent with both the U.S. and other states using IBIS. Charts have been updated from 2011 forward to reflect this change.   Age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.

Data Source

Utah Data: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Office of Public Health Assessment, Utah Department of Health

In 2017, the number of Utah Small Areas increased by 54%, from 64 to 99, to allow for a more meaningful analysis at the smallest possible unit. Previous data by Utah Small Area has been updated to reflect all 99 Utah Small Areas.[[br]] [[br]] Box Elder (Other) V2 (17.5%), Nephi/Mona (20.6%), Salt Lake City (Rose Park) (20.9%), and Kearns V2 (21.4%) had the lowest rates of recommended amount of muscle-strengthening activity compared to the state total.

Data Notes

In 2016, Utah BRFSS modified its methodology for age adjustment for increased precision. With this change Utah is consistent with both the U.S. and other states using IBIS. Charts have been updated from 2011 forward to reflect this change.   Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population.[[br]] [[br]] A description of the Utah Small Areas may be found on the Methodology and Guidelines page: [https://ibis.health.utah.gov/resource/Guidelines.html].

Data Source

Utah Data: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Office of Public Health Assessment, Utah Department of Health

About 1 in 4 (23.6%) adults with incomes less than $25,000 reported getting the recommended amount of muscle-strengthening activity compared to 40.3% of adults with incomes of $75,000 or more.

Data Notes

In 2016, Utah BRFSS modified its methodology for age adjustment for increased precision. With this change Utah is consistent with both the U.S. and other states using IBIS. Charts have been updated from 2011 forward to reflect this change.   Age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.

Data Source

Utah Data: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Office of Public Health Assessment, Utah Department of Health

Rates of meeting the recommended amount of muscle-strengthening activity increased with education level. Adults with less than a high school education had a lower rate of meeting the recommended amount of muscle-strengthening activity than adults who were college graduates (15.1% vs 38.7%).

Data Notes

In 2016, Utah BRFSS modified its methodology for age adjustment for increased precision. With this change Utah is consistent with both the U.S. and other states using IBIS. Charts have been updated from 2011 forward to reflect this change.   Age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.

Data Source

Utah Data: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Office of Public Health Assessment, Utah Department of Health

Males had significantly higher rates of recommended muscle-strengthening activity compared to females (36.4% vs 30.6%).

Data Notes

In 2016, Utah BRFSS modified its methodology for age adjustment for increased precision. With this change Utah is consistent with both the U.S. and other states using IBIS. Charts have been updated from 2011 forward to reflect this change.   Age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.

Data Source

Utah Data: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Office of Public Health Assessment, Utah Department of Health

References and Community Resources

National Physical Activity Recommendations:[[br]] [http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/][[br]] [http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/index.html] CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity: [http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao] The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has extensive resources on physical activity for patients, health care providers, and general consumers: [http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov] The CDC's Prevention Research Centers provide resources and information about physical activity to researchers, public health practitioners, and others who are interested in promoting physical activity in their communities: [http://www.cdc.gov/prc/] More information on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System may be found on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - [http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/] __References:__[[br]] 1. Knowler WC, Barrett-Connor E, Fowler SE, Hamman RF, Lachin JM, et al. Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. ''N Engl J Med'' 2002;346(6):393-403.[[br]] 2. Kesaniemi, Y., et al. (1994). Dose-response issues concerning physical activity and health: an evidence-based symposium. ''Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise'', 33(6 suppl), S351-S358[[br]] 3. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Chapter 2. [http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/chapter2.aspx]