La-Z-R Boys and Girls.

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Author: Ebenkamp, Becky

WHOMEVER determined that sloths are indigenous only south of the border never met the mammal's couchbound cousin: Harris' latest poll has found that our most-preferred pursuits involve sitting.

Lethargy is at an all-time high, indicates Rochester, N.Y.-based Harris Interactive's nationwide poll, so should it come as a surprise that obesity is, too? Eight years ago, 38% of adults who were asked to name their two or three favorite leisure activities mentioned ones that require exercise, such as fishing, swimming, walking, hiking or dancing. In the latest survey conducted in October, physical exertion was a trait found in only 29% or-the responses.

As in previous years, reading (24%), watching TV (17%) and spending time with the family and kids (17%) were the most-mentioned down-time activities. While fishing, playing team sports, exercise and gardening also finished near the top, more-active activities have dropped drastically (see chart, below). Gardening, for instance, was mentioned as a favorite pursuit by 15% in 1999, but only 6% in 2003. TV watching and reading lost a few points, too, but other inactivities made up for those declines: spending time with family, socializing with friends and using computers soared to new heights.

Last year, the survey recorded a dip in the number of hours people dedicate to their jobs or school. After eight consecutive years of weekly work hours staying constant at 50 or 51, respondents clocked in 47 on average in 2002. This year, the figure has bounced back slightly, to 49 hours per week.

Meanwhile, the median time available for TV watching, sports playing, socializing and whatnot is estimated at 19 hours--a figure that has only varied by one percentage point over the last 14 years. This is a far cry from the 1970s, when people reported more time to play (26 hours a week in 1973).

Crummy weather, post-9/11 cocooning, an aging population and decreased physical activity in schools serve as scapegoats for our slothfulness, but Harris Poll chairman Humphrey Taylor hasn't reached any sweeping, causal conclusions. "I'm sad to say it, but I just think we're becoming more sedentary," he said with resignation.

The obesity/inertia link, he says, involves a chicken-or-the-egg conundrum: While lack of exercise can lead to excess pounds, the significantly overweight exert themselves less because they have a harder time engaging in activities. "Even gardening can produce puff-panting," he said.

Legend for Chart:

A - ACTIVITY
B - '95
C - '97
D - '98
E - '99
F - '00
G - '01
H - '02
I - '03

   A                             B        C        D        E
                                 F        G        H        I

Reading                         28%      28%      30%      27%
                                31%      28%      26%      24%

Spending time with family       12       12       13       12
                                14       12       11       17

Watching TV                     25       19       21       22
                                23       20       15       17

Fishing                         10       12       11       13
                                 9       12        8        9

Going to movies                  8        7        8        8
                                 6        7        6        7

NO PAIN, NO BIGGIE: ACTIVITIES THAT AMERICANS ARE PARTAKING IN
LESS

Playing team sports              9%       9%       9%       8%
                                 5%       5%       7%       6%

Gardening                        9       11       14       15
                                13       10        8        6

Walking                          8        8        7        9
                                 8        6        4        4

Swimming                         7        6        7        6
                                 5        8        5        2

Bowling                          4        3        2        2
                                 2        1        1        1

Source: Harris Interactive (Note: survey was not conducted in
1996)

PHOTO (COLOR)

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Edited by Becky Ebenkamp