Atlanta, GA–All states and territories had more than 15% of adults who were physically inactive and this estimate ranged from 17.3 to 47.7%, according to new state maps of adult physical inactivity prevalence released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Physical inactivity for adults is defined as not participating in any leisure-time physical activities over the last month – activities such as running, walking for exercise, or gardening.
State and territory-level estimates of physical inactivity range from 17.3% of people in Colorado to 47.7% in Puerto Rico. In seven states and two territories (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and Guam), 30% or more of adults were physically inactive. By region, the South had the highest prevalence of physical inactivity (28%), followed by the Northeast (25.6%), Midwest (25%), and the West (20.5%).
The maps point to notable differences in physical inactivity levels by race and ethnicity. Overall, Hispanics had the highest prevalence of self-reported physical inactivity (31.7%), followed by non-Hispanic blacks (30.3%) and non-Hispanic whites (23.4%).
In the majority of locations examined, non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics had a significantly higher prevalence of inactivity than non-Hispanic whites.
Inactivity contributes to 1 in 10 premature deaths in the U.S. Inadequate levels of physical activity are associated with $117 billion in annual healthcare costs.
