The benefits of physical activity are well documented and improve all aspects of health and overall wellbeing. Globally, on average, 37.1% of women are insufficiently physically active while only 23.4% of men are; this trend is also found in Utah, where 19.4% of women are insufficiently physically active while only 17.6% of men are. While women often live longer than men, they are frequently in worse health. Physical inactivity contributes to the development and severity of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. In addition to affecting physical health, physical inactivity is also associated with poor mental health. Physical activity can contribute to positive self-image and improved confidence, which is critical for meaningful community participation as well as developing interpersonal relationships.
The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) seeks to better understand the status, experiences, and challenges of Utah women in order to strengthen the impact of women and girls. This snapshot summarizes research regarding physical activity levels, access, and barriers for girls (ages 7–11) and young women (ages 12–17) to help decision makers understand that instilling physically active habits early can improve the health and wellbeing of Utah women for the rest of their lives. This research snapshot reviews three key areas:
1) Gender physical activity levels and the importance of physical activity;
2) Gender physical activity factors; and
3) Recommendations to increase physical activity of Utah girls and young women.
National Recommendations: The majority of Americans do not meet the physical activity guidelines recommended for their age. It is advised that children and adolescents, ages 6 to 17, get 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day. For adults, at least 150–300 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity per week, or a combination of both, is recommended. In terms of steps, the daily recommended average for adolescents and adults is 10,000, and for girls it is 11,500.
Utah Comparison: In Utah, 28% of boys meet the recommended physical activity levels set by the state, compared to only 14% of girls. These numbers have been consistent over the past ten years, meaning half as many girls and young women are regularly getting recommended physical activity as compared to boys and young men. An analysis of the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment III data found that female college students were significantly less likely to meet physical activity guidelines compared to male college students. Research has found that women of various ages report facing more barriers to physical activity than men.
Lack of Options: A major barrier for girls and young women mentioned in the literature in terms of participating in fitness activities is the lack of options for physical activity that they prefer. Most physical education classes consist primarily of competitive sports, which young women identified as their least favored activity. Women, young and old, show preferences for yoga, walking, biking, and dancing. The scarcity of what they see as viable options, in combination with the lack of discussions with girls and young women on their preferred choice for physical activity, leads to lower rates of participation.
Gender Roles and Perceptions: Societal gender roles are strongly associated with young women’s lack of participation in physical activity. Children, youth, and young adults have differing views on the functionality of their bodies based on their biological sex. Notably, young women experience negative social feedback after participating in a school physical education class if they are not able to shower or change clothes because of how they appear to others, especially to boys. Teen women prioritize conforming to socially accepted ideals of beauty, which include being small, slight, and soft. This may come from the perceived lack of social capital for women participating in physical activity beyond maintaining feminine attractiveness.
Lack of Social Support: Social support from friends was noted as a key factor to girls and young women engaging in physical activity, yet many noted that social support from friends, parents, and teachers to participate was lacking. Girls and young women report less enjoyment in physical activity and less confidence in their abilities as they get older, which may stem from consistent lack of societal encouragement to be physically active, as well as societal pressure to not be competitive or strong.
Additional Barriers for Women of Color: Several research studies have reported a variety of additional barriers related to physical activity for girls and women of color. One team of qualitative researchers found that perspiration on hair and hair style maintenance, image, and social comparisons, along with the lack of solutions to overcome hair-related issues, were all barriers to physical activity for the women of color interviewed.
Since the passage of Title IX in 1972 mandated that federally funded educational institutions must provide women equal opportunity in sports, the number of women participating in sports went from one in 27 girls to today’s two in five girls participating. While large strides have been made in women’s sports, gaps still exist.
While there are many programs in Utah and the nation that promote physical activity, few have the specific goal of increasing physical activity levels of girls and young women. Although the problem is recognized, solutions have been slow to be adopted. Research has suggested the following recommendations to address and resolve these problems:
The benefits of physical activity are clear, yet thousands of Utah girls and women are participating at significantly lower levels than boys and men. With only 28% of boys and 14% of girls meeting the recommended physical activity levels set by the state, change is needed for all. Exploring the barriers associated with the lower levels of participation, specifically for females, has laid the groundwork for the recommendations for change offered in this snapshot. The way forward requires parental involvement and role-modeling, asking girls and women what they want to do and then providing support for those activities (even if the choices are historically associated with the male gender), and making women’s athletic pursuits and events equally visible for everyone. Finding ways to increase the physical activity of girls and women will improve their overall health and wellbeing, which, in turn, will impact the health and wellbeing of Utah families, communities, and the state as a whole.
To learn more about Utah girls, young women, and physical activity, read the full snapshot.
Posted by Kim Buesser, Rachel Myrer, and Dr. Susan R. Madsen on
This research synopsis, in partnership with scholars from around the state, provides a collection of data points that move the conversation from individuals’ perceptions of Utah women’s experiences toward data-driven realities.
January Newsletter for the Utah Women & Leadership Project at Utah State University.
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