New federal data shows roughly one in five Americans report no physical activity beyond their jobs, and where you live helps explain much of the difference. The report lays out sharp state-by-state contrasts, clear health consequences tied to inactivity, demographic gaps that matter, and hints of modest national improvement. These trends matter for public health planning, personal choices and where communities invest in parks, walking routes and recreation. The numbers point to practical fixes rather than mystery causes.
On the national snapshot, about 21.8% of adults said they do not exercise outside of work, a decline from the year before but still a sizable share of the population. The data comes from comprehensive national tracking that highlights both long-term patterns and recent shifts. That context helps explain why some states look very different from others when it comes to moving more in daily life.
At the bottom of the activity scale, Mississippi stands out with 30.6% of adults reporting no activity beyond their job duties. West Virginia and Arkansas are not far behind at roughly 28.7% and 28.5% respectively, and a cluster of Southern and Appalachian states record similarly high inactivity. Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky and Oklahoma each report rates around the high 20s, underlining a regional pattern worth attention.
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On the active end, Washington, D.C. reports the lowest share of inactive adults at 13.9%, while states like Colorado, Vermont and Utah post far stronger numbers in the mid-to-high teens. Washington state and Minnesota fall close behind, clustering around the 17% to 18% range. These differences often reflect local culture, outdoor access, and how easy it is to build movement into daily life.
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Major metropolitan states with big cities, such as New York and California, land nearer the middle of the national distribution, with New York at roughly 24% inactive and California around the national average at 21%. One state, Tennessee, lacked available data, leaving a small gap in the map. Still, the spread from low-teens to above 30% shows how varied activity patterns are across the country.
Public health experts emphasize the clear links between inactivity and serious illness: insufficient physical activity raises risks for cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, dementia, anxiety and depression. “Being physically active and reducing sedentary behavior improves health at all ages,” the report stated. That line captures why even modest increases in movement are treated as a priority for prevention efforts.
Federal guidelines aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, a baseline many adults fail to meet. Large studies find that people who exceed those minimums face significantly lower risks of death from cardiovascular disease and other causes. Researchers also note that adding as little as ten minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity each day could prevent tens of thousands of deaths every year.
The burden of inactivity falls disproportionately on certain groups: adults with lower incomes, those with less education, people living with disabilities and residents of rural areas report higher inactivity rates. People employed in physically demanding jobs may also be less likely to exercise recreationally compared with desk workers, which complicates how we think about occupational activity versus leisure activity. Addressing those disparities means tailoring access and messaging to different communities.
There are signs of progress: the national share of adults reporting no physical activity slipped from 24.2% to 21.8% in a single year, the lowest level seen since this tracking began. Some states posted notable improvements, including Minnesota, Vermont and Wyoming, suggesting local policies, community investments or cultural shifts can move the needle. That progress is encouraging but also highlights where more work is needed.
States that rank among the most active often appear near the top of overall health rankings, with New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and Utah scoring well on multiple measures. By contrast, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and West Virginia tend to rank lower on overall health indicators, linking inactivity with broader health challenges. The data makes clear that improving activity levels ties directly into efforts to raise overall population health.
“As we reflect on the findings in this year’s Annual Report, we must rededicate ourselves to improving health care in this country and creating a healthier nation for all,” Dr. Margaret-Mary Wilson, executive vice president and chief medical officer at UnitedHealth Group, said in a statement. That call to action underscores the combined roles of policy, community design and personal choices in shrinking those inactivity gaps and protecting long-term health.
