One in Five Americans Get No Exercise Outside of Work, Study Reveals

About 22% of Americans engage in no physical activity beyond their regular employment, according to a comprehensive new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the United Health Foundation. The findings highlight stark regional disparities in exercise habits across the country.

The latest America’s Health Rankings report, which analyzed national data from 2024, revealed Mississippi as the least active state in the nation. Nearly 31% of adults in Mississippi report no exercise outside their jobs. West Virginia and Arkansas follow closely behind at 28.7% and 28.5% respectively.

A clear geographical pattern emerges from the data, with Southern and Appalachian states showing consistently higher rates of physical inactivity. Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky and Oklahoma all reported inactivity rates of approximately 28%, significantly above the national average.

By contrast, Washington, D.C., topped the activity rankings with just 13.9% of residents reporting no physical activity outside work. Among states, Colorado led with a 15.6% inactivity rate, followed by Vermont (16%) and Utah (17%). Washington and Minnesota also performed well, with inactivity rates between 17-18%.

More populous states with major metropolitan areas like New York and California fell in the middle range of the rankings. New York reported an inactivity rate of about 24%, while California matched the national average at roughly 21%. Tennessee was the only state without available data in the report.

Public health experts warn that the lack of physical activity carries significant health consequences. The United Health Foundation emphasizes that insufficient exercise is linked to elevated risks of 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 states.

Current federal guidelines recommend adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly, such as brisk walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity. Research published in the journal Circulation found that adults who exceed these minimum guidelines have significantly lower mortality risks from cardiovascular disease and other causes.

Even modest increases in physical activity could yield substantial health benefits. Researchers have found that adding just 10 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity daily could prevent tens of thousands of deaths annually across the population.

The report identified several demographic factors associated with higher inactivity rates. Adults with lower incomes, less education, disabilities, and those living in rural areas were significantly more likely to be physically inactive. Additionally, people working physically demanding jobs may be less inclined to exercise recreationally compared to those with desk-based occupations.

Despite these challenges, the report notes encouraging signs of progress nationally. The percentage of adults reporting no physical activity has declined from 24.2% in 2023 to 21.8% in 2024 – the lowest level recorded since tracking began nearly three decades ago. Minnesota, Vermont and Wyoming showed particularly notable improvements in their activity rates.

The exercise findings correlate strongly with overall health rankings. States with the lowest inactivity rates frequently ranked among the healthiest overall, with New Hampshire leading the overall health rankings, followed by Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and Utah. Conversely, Louisiana was identified as the least healthy state overall, with Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and West Virginia rounding out the bottom five.

“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,” said Dr. Margaret-Mary Wilson, executive vice president and chief medical officer at UnitedHealth Group.

The findings underscore the importance of developing targeted public health strategies to address physical inactivity, particularly in regions where it remains persistently high.