This study used the 2010 Health of Houston Survey to examine the physical activity of Asian American adults living in Houston, Texas. Multivariate regression models were conducted to examine the number of moderate leisure physical activity days in the past week and likelihood of having sufficient levels of physical activity. The results showed that Asians were among the least physically active of the major racial/ethnic groups. Most notably, Asians were less likely than whites to have sufficient levels of physical activity and had similarly lower expected numbers of physical activity minutes and days. Within the Asian American population, Vietnamese adults had more physical activity minutes and days than their Chinese counterparts—after controlling for other sociodemographic and health factors. Age- and gender-adjusted rates suggested a significant gender disparity among the Vietnamese and South Asian adults (less so for the Chinese adults), but this varied across different age groups. Several factors emerged as significant predictors of physical activity for Asian Americans, including age, immigration status, speaking a non-English language at home, marital status, and neighborhood incivilities. Findings highlight the need for targeted, culturally appropriate interventions to promote physical activity in Asian American communities. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Chinese Vietnamese Asian Americans Houston, Texas physical activity

China Caucasian demography exercise human epidemiology Health Behavior middle aged sex difference statistics and numerical data health status Aged Health Surveys social support language ethnology Residence Characteristics Young Adult Humans Adolescent Asian Americans male Asian American female Socioeconomic Factors Southeast Asia socioeconomics adult age European Continental Ancestry Group Sex Factors Age Factors Asia, Southeastern Texas health survey