Mapped: Arkansas shows a low activity rate
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Nearly 30% of Arkansans report doing no physical activity or exercise outside of their job, per a new report, higher than the national average of about 22%.
🧠Why it matters: Even just moderate exercise can have tremendous benefits for your physical and mental well-being, research has found.
Driving the news: The findings, from 2024 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data, are highlighted in the United Health Foundation's new "America Health Rankings" report.
Zoom in: The Natural State reports the highest share of adults reporting no physical activity other than work, along with Mississippi (30.6%), West Virginia (28.7%) and (28.5%) Washington, D.C. (13.9%), Colorado (15.6%) and Vermont (16%) have the smallest shares.
- There's no data for Tennessee.
📉 Between the lines: While the states with the least active adults tend to rank poorly in other health metrics, other factors could be at play here.
- People who work physically demanding jobs, for example, may be less likely to exercise for fun than desk jockeys.
The bottom line: Arkansas ranked No. 49 in the overall report, America's Health Rankings — from the United Health Foundation, established by UnitedHealth Group.
- It synthesizes 99 measures of health and well-being, drawn from 31 data sources, to produce a "comprehensive portrait of health at both the national and state levels."
💠Worth's thought bubble: Winter weather made it hard to be active the last 10 days or so, especially since I prefer to be active outside.
- Hurry up, March!