Direct answer
The most common personal barriers
For adults trying to walk consistently, common barriers include limited time, low energy, low motivation, little social support, lack of skill, fear of injury, and weather conditions.
How weather and neighborhood design affect walking
Walking can be harder to sustain when weather gets in the way or when community design does not support it. Lack of time, safety, community design, and personal ability have all been identified as barriers to walking.
Safety and access barriers
Safety concerns and access matter alongside personal routines. Previously identified self-reported barriers include traffic, crime, and animals.
Distinct challenges for older adults
Older adults may also face lack of motivation or limited access to safe places to be active. Concerns about falling or injury, chronic health conditions, limited mobility, and pain can add further barriers.
What the 2022 US survey found
In a 2022 survey of 3,967 US adults, 79.0% reported at least one reason for not walking to places within a 10-minute walk of home. The most common reported reasons were hot and humid conditions, no destinations within a 10-minute walk, preferring to drive, and inconvenience.
Why barriers vary across demographic and geographic groups
The same walking habit will not meet the same obstacles everywhere. Reported reasons for not walking near home varied significantly across sociodemographic and geographic groups in the 2022 survey. For people building a simple walking routine, it is useful to identify whether the main barrier is personal, practical, environmental, or related to access and safety.
What to do next
Review the cited sources and apply the relevant guidance described above.
Sources
- Overcoming Barriers to Physical Activity
- 10 Things to Know About the Physical Activity Guidelines Midcourse Report
- Self-Reported Reasons Preventing US Adults From Walking to Places Within 10 Minutes of Home
Comments
No comments yet.