Many Americans get no physical activity outside of work
About one in four Americans don't spend any of their free time being active, and people who live in Appalachia and the South are least likely to get out and move, according to new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC data provides county-level stats on physical activity and levels of diabetes and obesity nationwide. Physical activity was defined as doing any form of exercise outside of one's job, such as walking, running or even gardening.
Counties in Maryland varied widely. Somerset County had the highest percentage of adults who are physically inactive -- 31 percent. Baltimore wasn't far behind with 30 percent of adults being physically inactive. Meanwhile counties with the lowest percentage were Montgomery (18 percent) Howard (19 percent) and Anne Arundel (21 percent).
Not surprisingly, the areas where people did the least activity were also those where rates of diabetes and obesity were high. Even modest exercise -- taking a brisk walk every day for 20 minutes -- can help people with diabetes improve their health, the CDC suggests.
The agency hopes community groups and policy makers use the data to promote communities with sidewalks and access to parks and recreation areas that encourage people to get out and exercise.
So, have you left your desk today?
Comments
This article states that the areas in which are least inactivity have high rates of obesity and diabetes. One factor that this article doesn't take into account is the geographic location. People are not going to exercise outside in the cold or in the snow, not to mention if they living in a high crime area. Exercise is just one of the ways to maintain and control a healthy weight, but what about healthy foods. You have to take into account how far the nearest grocery store isand how many people have transportation or are taking public transportation.
Posted by: Nichole | February 17, 2011 11:05 AM
@Nichole--I would take exception to the premise that you suggest exercise is not going to take place because it is cold in the winter time. That really is no excuse. There are plenty of people that bundle up and still get their exercise in the winter time. It all comes down to whether that individual wants to make the necessary lifestyle changes badly enough. Some don't, and then we see increased obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.
Posted by: Jeff | February 17, 2011 12:45 PM
And many of us get no activity inside of work, either. :(
Posted by: Cats McGee | February 17, 2011 1:52 PM
The only weather condition I fear is ice and other than that I will walk three times daily out side every day in the snow, rain and cold. It is also helpful that I walk in a pretty much crime free environment. As a type-2 diabetic I take my medication and eat healthy. My motivation is control of my diabetes but my strength and discipline comes from my GOD.
Posted by: John A.Wheeler | February 18, 2011 9:07 AM
Let's not forget socioeconomic status as a major factor here. It's no surprise that the three most "active" counties in Maryland are the three wealthiest. Plus, the "South" is the poorest region in the country.
Posted by: Chris | February 18, 2011 9:08 AM
Acupuncture is supposed to work through mechanisms that are inconsistent with what we know about physiology (how the body works) and anatomy today. But because people have reported benefits from them, attempts have been made to see if these methods work anyway.. . Many diseases waxes and wanes (Regression to the mean), so if an acupuncturist says it can take some time to work he will be correct in many instances, but not because of the acupuncture. Part of the effect some people experience from getting acupuncture is attributable to the placebo effect (Attributable to expectation, conditioning, endorphins etc.). To know if acupuncture works beyond waxing/waning and placebo you have to do "Randomised blinded placebo controlled studies". When you do that, it turns out, that it can't do anything that any other placebo can't do.
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