According to a new report that was released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevailing rates of physical inactivity among American adults has reached a concerning level.
The report found that about one in four adults in the United States are considered physically inactive.
A recent article published by thehill.com gives us an easy-to-understand glimpse into some of the statistics within the report.
But needless to say, this isn’t a good thing for health and wellness.
Physical activity is an absolute pillar of healthy living.
Staying physically active helps to keep us youthful, vital, healthy, and disease-free.
It also helps our mental health and overall physical well-being.
But unfortunately, many Americans aren’t making it a priority.
The study was conducted as a state-based telephone survey.
During these telephone survey calls, respondents were asked if they took part in any physical activities outside of their regular job within the past month.
And the survey found that the national prevalence of physical inactivity was 25.3%.
As you likely know, there can be pretty severe negative health repercussions for not getting adequate physical exercise.
Not only does this increase your risk for certain types of diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, but it also puts you more at risk for suffering from metabolic syndrome and obesity.
Physical activity helps to reduce incidences of chronic disease, helps people to perform better throughout the day, and also contributes to a better night’s sleep.
So what’s the problem?
Why are so many people not prioritizing physical exercise?
Well, as it turns out, there may be a number of different factors at work.
In some places, a lack of safe spaces within which to exercise—such as parks, sidewalks, and safe streets—could be a factor.
In other cases, people may suffer from a lack of time and/or social support.
It’s also possible that some people simply lack motivation.
There are, after all, more and more reasons to stay rooted to our chair, couch, or desk in this modern world.
There are video games to play, endless TV shows to binge on, social media sites to browse—the list goes on and on.
A person could truly stay entertained forever sitting in one place if they don’t make an intentional effort to get up and move around.
However, it’s also true that while these distractions can be enjoyable, it’s important that we don’t let them take our focus away from some of the more important things in life—like getting up, staying active, getting adequate physical exercise, and maintaining optimal health and wellness.
If this study has told us anything, it’s that it’s more important than ever that we prioritize physical fitness and exercise in our lives.
It really does make a difference.
So today, make an effort to get up, get out, and get active.
Whether it be walking, running, hiking, playing a sport, lifting weights at the gym, or even just taking a leisurely stroll at the park with your friends—being active is incredibly important.
So don’t neglect it.
