The American Physical Therapy Association launched a national campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of regular physical activity and to encourage Americans of all ages and abilities to embrace active lifestyles. According to HHS, more than 80% of adults and adolescents do not get meet physical activity guidelines recommended for their age and ability.
An inactive lifestyle is a top risk factor for chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and high blood pressure, and it raises a person's risk for falls, certain cancers, and feelings of anxiety and depression. According to the CDC, about one in two American adults live with a chronic disease, with half of this group living with two or more chronic diseases.
There are many reasons why people don't exercise, but almost everyone can improve their health by moving more. A physical therapist can help.
Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement.
See below for physical inactivity data by state.
Visit our Physical Activity page to learn about the benefits of physical activity, get health and wellness tips, and find out how a physical therapist can help you.
Alabama
In 2019, 31% of Alabama adults were physically inactive, nearly double the rate of the healthiest state.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Alaska
In 2017, just 48% of Alaska Native adults and 57.5% of other Alaska adults met CDC guidelines for physical activity.
Source: Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Arizona
In Arizona, 29.5% of older adults were physically inactive in 2019 — a risk factor for falls and chronic disease.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Arkansas
In 2018, 31% of Arkansas adults did not exercise — a risk factor for obesity and chronic diseases.
Source: America's Health Rankings
California
Just one in five teens in California get the recommended amount of exercise per day.
Source: UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
Colorado
Only 50% of Colorado high school students get the recommended amount of exercise per day.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services
Connecticut
In Connecticut, 24.6% of adult females do not exercise, increasing their risk of chronic disease.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Delaware
Only 27.6% of Delaware adults meet recommendations for aerobic physical activity — a risk factor for obesity.
Source: Delaware.gov
District of Columbia
19.6% of D.C. adults in 2019 reported being physically inactive — a risk factor for diabetes.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Florida
In 2019, 31% of older adults in Florida did not exercise, increasing their risk for falls and chronic disease.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Georgia
Only half of high school students in Georgia exercise for at least 60 minutes a day.
Source: Georgia Department of Public Health
Hawaii
20% of adults in Hawaii are physically inactive — exercise reduces the risk for chronic disease.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Idaho
45% of adolescents in Idaho do not get the recommended amount of daily physical activity.
Source: Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health
Illinois
In 2019, nearly 25% of Illinois adults did not exercise — putting them at risk for cardiovascular and other diseases.
Source: CDC, Behavioral Risk Facture Surveillance System
Indiana
Indiana was ranked 42 out of 50 for physical inactivity in 2019, with 27.4% of adults who did not exercise.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Iowa
In 2018, 23% of Iowa adults reported that they do not participate in any physical activities for exercise.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Kansas
Nearly 23% of adults in Kansas — a state with a high obesity rate — report they are physically inactive.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Kentucky
In 2019, 32.4% of adults in Kentucky were physically inactive, making Kentucky the least active state in the U.S.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Louisiana
31% of Louisiana adults do not exercise, which is tied to high rates of obesity, heart disease, and premature death.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Maine
Only 6.5% of Maine students took part in physical education classes five days a week in 2018.
Source: The 2018 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
Maryland
Just over 35% of Maryland children and youth exercised at least five days a week in 2018.
Source: The 2018 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
Massachusetts
In 2018, 48% of Massachusetts youth were inactive — a risk factor for obesity and other health problems.
Source: The 2018 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
Michigan
In 2019, 32% of high school graduates in Michigan were physically inactive — a risk factor for chronic disease.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Minnesota
Exercise helps to lower high blood pressure, which affected nearly 27% of Minnesotans in 2019.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Mississippi
In Mississippi in 2018, 37% of youth had poor fitness and were considered overweight or obese.
Source: The 2018 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
Missouri
In Missouri, 12.5% of youth aged 10 to 17 are obese; physical activity helps to prevent and control obesity.
Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Montana
75% of Montana adults and 72% of youth do not meet recommendations for physical activity.
Source: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Nebraska
Lack of physical activity puts 23.8% of Nebraska's adults at increased risk for chronic conditions.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Nevada
Physical inactivity is linked to heart disease — the number one cause of death in Nevada in 2017.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
New Hampshire
In New Hampshire in 2019, 34% of adults aged 65 and older reported doing no physical activity or exercise.
Source: America's Health Rankings
New Jersey
One in four New Jersey adults are physically inactive — a risk factor for many chronic conditions.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
New Mexico
Physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, and some cancers, yet only 23.4% of adults in New Mexico get enough.
Source: New Mexico Department of Health
New York
In New York, 26.2% of females and 21.1% of males were physically inactive in 2019.
Source: America's Health Rankings
North Carolina
Physical inactivity is among the leading causes of preventable death in North Carolina.
Source: America's Health Rankings
North Dakota
In 2019, 22.3% of adults in North Dakota said that they don't take part in any physical activity.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Ohio
One quarter of adults in Ohio do not get any physical activity — a risk factor for chronic diseases.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Oklahoma
Nearly 40% of seniors in Oklahoma are physically inactive — a risk factor for premature death.
Source: Oklahoma State Department of Health
Oregon
Just 22.3% of adults in Oregon meet CDC guidelines for physical activity.
Source: Oregon Health Authority
Pennsylvania
Of Pennsylvania adults aged 45-64, 24% are physically inactive, putting them at risk for chronic disease.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Rhode Island
36% of Rhode Island children and youth lack physical fitness and were obese or overweight in 2018.
Source: The 2018 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
South Carolina
One in three South Carolina children are obese. Lack of exercise is a risk factor for obesity.
Source: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
South Dakota
From 2016 to 2019, physical inactivity rose 22% among South Dakota's older adults.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Tennessee
From 2012 to 2019, diabetes rose by 23% in Tennessee. Physical activity can reduce the risk for chronic disease.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Texas
25% of Texas adults reported doing no physical activity — a risk factor for diabetes, which is high in the state.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Utah
Compared with the nation, Utahns are more active, yet 18% of adults say they don't get any physical activity.
Source: Utah Department of Public Health
Vermont
In Vermont, 20% of all deaths are cancer related. Regular exercise can lower the risk of some cancers by 40% to 50%.
Source: America's Health Rankings and American Society of Clinical Oncology
Virginia
Of adults in Virginia in 2019, 22% do not exercise regularly and 30% struggle with obesity.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Washington
In 2018, 25.5% of youth in Washington were overweight or obese, a condition linked to physical inactivity.
Source: America's Health Rankings
West Virginia
Less than half of West Virginians met physical activity guidelines — a risk factor for chronic disease.
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Wisconsin
21.8% of Wisconsin adults do not take part in any leisure time physical activities — a risk factor for chronic diseases.
Source: America's Health Rankings
Wyoming
Obesity, which is linked to physical inactivity, increased by 16% among adults in Wyoming from 2012 to 2019.
Source: America's Health Rankings
