Southerners most inactive & half of Puerto Ricans get no exercise at all – laziest parts of US revealed

Nearly half the people in Puerto Rico do not exercise and much of the South is also prone to "physical inactivity," according to a troubling report by the Centers for Disease Control released today.

The exhaustive fitness survey is based on phone interviews conducted by the CDC and state health departments between 2015 and 2018.

More than 30 percent of adults were found to be inactive in seven states and two territories.

The South had the "highest prevalence" of inactivity at 28 percent, followed by the Northeast (25.6), Midwest (25) and West (20.5).

At least 15 percent of adults in all states do not break a sweat, according to the survey.

"Too many adults are inactive, and they not know how much it affects their health," said Dr. Ruth Petersen of the CDC.

"Being physically active helps you sleep better, feel better and reduce your risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers."

The report found that 48 percent of Puerto Rican adults do not exercise. The unincorporated US territory has a population of three million people.

Between 25 and 30 percent of adults were physically inactive in 15 states, and 20 to 25 percent of residents of 24 states did not exercise.

"The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans" recommends that adults get 150 minutes of "moderate-intensity" exercise every week, according to the CDC.

Inactivity leads to one out of every 10 premature deaths in the US, the agency said.

"The key is to move more and sit less," the CDC said.

The agency suggests Americans can get more exercise by choosing the stairs over the escalator, parking further away from their destination, and walking or cycling to run errands.

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