Background
Press release | What can be done?
(January 2022)—These maps use data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The CDC and state health departments conduct the ongoing telephone interview survey in the state. This survey asked respondents if they had done any physical activity outside of their regular job during the past month. People who said “no” were classified as inactive.
The BRFSS question said:
“During the past month, in addition to your regular job, did you participate in any physical activity or exercise such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise?”
These maps use combined data from 2017 to 2020 for 52 jurisdictions:
- 49 states.
- The District of Columbia.
- The territories of Guam and Puerto Rico.
New Jersey data was not reported because data was not collected in 2019. Combining 4 years of data allowed for analysis of physical inactivity among different racial and ethnic groups. Data for individual years is available through BRFSS.
Overall, the prevalence of physical inactivity was 25.3%.
The previous maps were published in January 2020 with data from 2015 to 2018. Two years of that analysis overlap with the data in this analysis. Therefore, the trends of the two map editions should not be compared.
Race/ethnicity
Overall, non-Hispanic Asian adults (20.1%) had the lowest prevalence of physical inactivity outside of work, followed by non-Hispanic whites (23.0%), non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives (29.1%), non-Hispanic blacks (30.0%), and Hispanic or Latino adults (32.1%).
- 2 states (Alaska and Montana) and Guam had a physical inactivity prevalence of 30% or greater among non-Hispanic Asian adults.*
- Five states (Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and West Virginia) had a physical inactivity prevalence of 30% or greater among non-Hispanic white adults.
- 27 states had a physical inactivity prevalence of 30% or greater among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native adults.*
- 23 states and the District of Columbia had a physical inactivity prevalence of 30% or higher among non-Hispanic black adults.*
- 25 states and Puerto Rico had a prevalence of physical inactivity of 30% or more among Hispanic or Latino adults.
*49 of 52 jurisdictions had sufficient data to be included in these results.
Physical activity can benefit everyone, but lack of access to safe and convenient places to engage in physical activity may contribute to these racial and ethnic disparities.
Location
The lowest prevalence of non-work inactivity was 17.7% (Colorado) and the highest prevalence was 49.4% (Puerto Rico). Regionally, Southern states (27.5%) had the highest prevalence of physical inactivity, followed by the Midwest (25.2%), Northeast (24.7%), and West (21.0%).
- Four states (Colorado, Utah, Washington, and Vermont) had a prevalence of physical inactivity of 17.7% to less than 20%.
- 24 states and the District of Columbia had a prevalence of physical inactivity of 20% to less than 25%.
- 14 states and Guam had a prevalence of physical inactivity of 25% to less than 30%.
- Seven states (West Virginia, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Mississippi) and Puerto Rico had a prevalence of physical inactivity of 30% or greater.
What can be done?
Reducing physical inactivity requires a comprehensive effort from many groups (including states, communities, workplaces, and individuals) to make it easier for everyone to move more. Community leaders, for example, can encourage physical activity programs for youth and schools and support the design of active communities.
Racial and ethnic differences in physical inactivity underscore the need to address barriers to physical activity for groups most likely to be inactive. Examples of barriers include a lack of safe spaces for physical activity, such as parks, unsafe streets with fast-moving traffic and no sidewalks, lack of time, and lack of social support.
We all have a role to play in increasing physical activity. Learn more about strategies to increase physical activity. Also, get involved in Active People, Healthy NationYECDC’s national initiative to help 27 million people be more physically active by 2027.
Individuals and families are encouraged to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines. See recommended amounts of physical activity for people ages 3 and older.
Map: general physical inactivity outside of work
Prevalence of self-reported physical inactivity* among US adults by state and territory, BRFSS, 2017-2020
Fountain: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
*Respondents were classified as physically inactive if they answered “no” to the following question: “During the past month, in addition to your regular job, did you participate in any physical activity or exercise such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise?”
** Sample size less than 50, relative standard error (dividing the standard error by the prevalence) greater than or equal to 30%, or no data in at least 1 year.
Download CSV [XLS – 2 KB]
Maps: physical inactivity outside of work by race/ethnicity
Prevalence of self-reported physical inactivity* among US adults by race/ethnicity, state and territory, BRFSS, 2017-2020
Non-Hispanic Asian Adults
Fountain: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
*Respondents were classified as physically inactive if they answered “no” to the following question: “During the past month, in addition to your regular job, did you participate in any physical activity or exercise such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise?”
** Sample size less than 50, relative standard error (dividing the standard error by the prevalence) greater than or equal to 30%, or no data in at least 1 year.
Download CSV [XLS – 2 KB]
Non-Hispanic White Adults
Fountain: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
*Respondents were classified as physically inactive if they answered “no” to the following question: “During the past month, in addition to your regular job, did you participate in any physical activity or exercise such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise?”
** Sample size less than 50, relative standard error (dividing the standard error by the prevalence) greater than or equal to 30%, or no data in at least 1 year.
Download CSV [XLS – 2 KB]
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native Adults
Fountain: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
*Respondents were classified as physically inactive if they answered “no” to the following question: “During the past month, in addition to your regular job, did you participate in any physical activity or exercise such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise?”
** Sample size less than 50, relative standard error (dividing the standard error by the prevalence) greater than or equal to 30%, or no data in at least 1 year.
Download CSV [XLS – 2 KB]
Non-Hispanic Black Adults
Fountain: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
*Respondents were classified as physically inactive if they answered “no” to the following question: “During the past month, in addition to your regular job, did you participate in any physical activity or exercise such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise?”
** Sample size less than 50, relative standard error (dividing the standard error by the prevalence) greater than or equal to 30%, or no data in at least 1 year.
Download CSV [XLS – 2 KB]
Hispanic, Latino or Spanish adults
Fountain: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
*Respondents were classified as physically inactive if they answered “no” to the following question: “During the past month, in addition to your regular job, did you participate in any physical activity or exercise such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise?”
** Sample size less than 50, relative standard error (dividing the standard error by the prevalence) greater than or equal to 30%, or no data in at least 1 year.
Download CSV [XLS – 2 KB]
Resources
Data, trends and maps
Interactive database of national and state data on the health status and behaviors of Americans. It includes physical activity and environmental and political support for physical activity.
PLACES: Local data for better health
Population-level analysis based on models and community estimates for all US counties, places (incorporated and census-designated places), census tracts, and ZIP code tabulation areas. Includes data on physical inactivity.
Health status data
Data sources to identify health gaps.
Advances and new directions in physical activity monitoring
Magazine of physical activity and health complement with up to 20 years of physical activity data. Articles include a discussion of the history and future directions of national physical activity surveillance.
Physical activity in all domains
Provides information on physical activity and inactivity including leisure, occupational/domestic, and transportation activities.
