Nearly one in two Americans is exercising regularly according to a new AARP poll. The leading reasons Americans are getting more active are to improve their health and manage their stress. The survey of 1,000 people age 18 and older found men exercised more for social reasons than women. Almost half of the men polled compared to 34 percent of women said they exercise to socialize with others. Women cite health and weight management as their leading reasons for exercising. The reasons why those polled who didn’t exercise: 58 percent felt too tired or lacked the energy, 50 percent didn’t have enough time, and 41 percent cited bad weather.

Source: “AARP Physical Activity Survey, 2006,” www.aarp.org/fitness.