CDC maps least and most active Americans

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDFeb 20 2011

A new government commissioned study has found that Colorado has one of the most active populations in the country and Kentucky has one of the least active. This study is the third in a series of county-focused reports by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The first two looked at diabetes and obesity rates, says Ann Albright, director of the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation.

Albright said, “When you actually take all three maps together, it really does give you this clear picture that the Southern and Appalachian areas on all three - obesity, diabetes and inactivity - are very closely tied to each other. It lets you step back and gives the big picture.” This study gathered data from all 3,141 U.S. counties from adults who reported their physical activity levels. Data for the study were collected from the Census and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (an ongoing phone survey) in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The counties which fell into the group with the least physical activity were Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee. On the other hand counties that were getting most exercise included California, Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

According to endocrinologist Kevin Furlong, an assistant professor of medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia the results are not surprising. He added that physical inactivity is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes and obesity and Southern states have more inactive counties and more prevalence of these problems.

Susan Spratt, an endocrinologist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. said, “At every level of society we need to make it easier to do routine exercise as part of our day.” Albright advised, “Moderate intensity activities such as dancing or brisk walking, for just 150 minutes a week, can significantly improve the health of people with diabetes or at high risk for the disease.”