title: Awareness and knowledge of the youth 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To measure parental awareness of government physical activity guidelines and knowledge of the amount of physical activity recommended for youth (ie, 60 minutes per day, 7 days per week) as specified in the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional national sample of adults responded to physical activity guideline questions added to the HealthStyles survey in 2009 (n = 1552). The prevalence of parents aware of government physical activity guidelines and knowledgeable of the youth physical activity guideline, specifically, was estimated overall and by parental demographic characteristics (sex, education, income level, race/ethnicity, age group, marital status) and body mass index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2009, 34.8% of parents reported being aware of physical activity guidelines, and 9.7% were knowledgeable of the amount of physical activity recommended for youth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many parents lack awareness and knowledge of the youth physical activity guidelines. The low prevalence estimates suggest the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans has not been effectively disseminated. These results may also indicate a need for effective communication strategies to educate and inform parents, an important influencer of children's health behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Summer Dawn
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: DeBastiani
authors.forename: Dianna D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fulton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult