There is no doubt that a physically inactive lifestyle is associated with various health maladies including increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, various cancers and leads to early mortality. Obesity has become a national epidemic in the United States and lack of physical activity has been implicated as a major cause of childhood and adult obesity.

In the United States, about 1/4 of all Americans are completely inactive and 60% are insufficiently active. Only about 12% of the US population engages in enough regular vigorous exercise to achieve an adequate level of cardiorespiratory fitness.