The good news is that most states have programs in place to encourage residents to get fit, get moving and stay active.
The not so good news is that some states aren't really succeeding at any of those efforts.
A new "State Indicator Report on Physical Activity, 2014," from the Centers for Disease Control lists out the best and worst when it comes to which states features the most active residents and statistics regarding citizen activity and the numbers are a bit surprising
"As a whole, 25.4% of the country gets no leisure-time physical activity. And in certain states, that number skyrockets up to 36%," states the report (PDF). The authors provide several data notes and potential explanations to why there are such low numbers in some states such as Mississippi.
"This is 'leisure time activity' which means people who have very little leisure times - maybe they are working two jobs - would rank low on the scale. Also, it doesn't include any physically demanding work that people might do during their jobs," states the report.
The authors note that citizens who are active generally live longer and have less health issues.
"Environmental and policy strategies such as access to safe places for physical activity, physical education and physical activity in schools and child care settings, and street-scale and community-scale design policy can help increase physical activity behavior among all
Americans," states the report. The data relied on research from a 20111 nationwide telephone survey and information from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Overall the authors appear positive regarding the data.
"This report shows that many state health departments, other state and local government agencies, and their partners are working to improve access and establish polices that make it easier to be physically active in communities and schools," write the authors.
In addition to the data, the report provides case studies of programs and efforts in various states regarding efforts to get residents fit and active.
As noted Mississippi ranked first followed by Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisiana and Alabama.
