What percentage of people in the United States are sedentary?

• A. 24%
• B. 36%
• C. 52%
• D. 12%

Answer: (B)

Sedentary behavior means not meeting the recommended levels of physical activity. The general public-health target is at least 150 minutes of moderate‑intensity aerobic activity each week, plus muscle‑strengthening on several days. When many adults don’t reach these guidelines, they’re considered sedentary. National surveys consistently place the share of U.S. adults who don’t meet these guidelines at about 36%. That’s why this option fits best: it matches the widely cited estimate from BRFSS/NHIS data, reflecting real-world activity levels.

The other percentages don’t align as closely with these national estimates. They would imply notably smaller or larger portions of the population are inactive, which isn’t what the surveys typically show. Remember, numbers can vary by year and by how “sedentary” is defined or measured, but 36% is the standard figure you’ll see in health statistics for this question.