Disability and Inactivity Linked to Chronic Disease Risk

Author: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Published: 2014/05/30 - Updated: 2025/12/14
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Findings
Category Topic: Exercising - Related Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presents findings from their analysis of 2009-2012 National Health Interview Survey data examining the relationship between physical activity levels and chronic disease among working-age adults with disabilities. The research demonstrates that nearly half of adults with disabilities capable of aerobic activity get none at all, and inactive adults with disabilities face a 50 percent greater likelihood of developing serious chronic conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer compared to their active counterparts.

The information proves particularly valuable for healthcare providers, caregivers, and adults with disabilities themselves by highlighting that physical activity serves as a powerful preventive measure against chronic disease, and that doctor recommendations increase the likelihood of physical activity by 82 percent. The CDC's analysis focuses on adults aged 18-64 with serious difficulties in walking, hearing, seeing, or cognitive functions, making it directly relevant to a substantial portion of the disability community who could benefit from understanding how modest increases in physical activity - following the recommended 150 minutes weekly of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise - can significantly reduce their health risks - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Working age adults with disabilities who do not get any aerobic physical activity are 50 percent more likely than their active peers to have a chronic disease such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, or heart disease, according to a Vital Signs report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Main Content

Nearly half (47 percent) of adults with disabilities who are able to do aerobic physical activity do not get any.
An additional 22 percent are not active enough.
Yet only about 44 percent of adults with disabilities who saw a doctor in the past year got a recommendation for physical activity.

"Physical activity is the closest thing we have to a wonder drug," said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. "Unfortunately, many adults with disabilities don't get regular physical activity. That can change if doctors and other health care providers take a more active role helping their patients with disabilities develop a physical fitness plan that's right for them."

Most adults with disabilities are able to participate in some aerobic physical activity which has benefits for everyone by reducing the risk of serious chronic diseases. Some of the benefits from regular aerobic physical activity include increased heart and lung function; better performance in daily living activities; greater independence; decreased chances of developing chronic diseases; and improved mental health.

For this report, CDC analyzed data from the 2009-2012 National Health Interview Survey and focused on the relation between physical activity levels and chronic diseases among U.S. adults aged 18-64 years with disabilities, by disability status and type. These are adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs; hearing; seeing; or concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. Based on the 2010 data, the study also assessed the prevalence of receiving a health professional recommendation for physical activity and the association with the level of aerobic physical activity.

Key findings include:

Working age adults with disabilities are three times more likely to have heart disease, stroke, diabetes or cancer than adults without disabilities.
Nearly half of adults with disabilities get no aerobic physical activity, an important protective health behavior to help avoid these chronic diseases.
Inactive adults with disabilities were 50 percent more likely to report at least one chronic disease than were active adults with disabilities.
Adults with disabilities were 82 percent more likely to be physically active if their doctor recommended it.

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that all adults, including those with disabilities, get at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity each week. If meeting these guidelines is not possible, adults with disabilities should start physical activity slowly based on their abilities and fitness level.

Doctors and other health professionals can recommend physical activity options that match the abilities of adults with disabilities and resources that can help overcome barriers to physical activity. CDC has set up a dedicated resource page to help doctors and other health professionals recommend physical activity to their adult patients with disabilities.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: The stark reality revealed in this CDC analysis should prompt immediate action from both the medical community and public health advocates: when doctors fail to recommend physical activity to their patients with disabilities - which happened in 56 percent of cases examined - they miss a critical opportunity to prevent debilitating chronic diseases that disproportionately affect this population. Given that adults with disabilities are three times more likely than their non-disabled peers to develop heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer, and that a simple physician recommendation increases physical activity rates by 82 percent, the path forward seems clear. Healthcare providers must move beyond treating disabilities in isolation and embrace a more holistic approach that includes tailored physical activity guidance as standard practice, recognizing that even small amounts of regular movement can dramatically alter health trajectories for millions of Americans living with disabilities - Disabled World (DW).

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published on 2014/05/30, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.