How many older U.S. adults get enough exercise? The data is missing.

We all know we should move more, but how many of us actually do? A recent report set out to answer that for American adults over 25, checking who met the 2018 federal guidelines for both aerobic activity (like brisk walking) and muscle-strengthening exercises. The report describes looking at this percentage using 2022 data, but the abstract—the public summary—doesn't provide the crucial number. It doesn't tell us if 20%, 40%, or 60% of people are hitting the mark. This means we can't see the size of the problem or if things are getting better or worse. Because it's just an observational report, it can't tell us what causes low activity levels either. The lack of numbers and any statistical measures of certainty is a major limitation, leaving us with a question mark about the state of American fitness.