Indicator Summary

Indicator:	Year:

No Leisure-Time Physical Activity

This indicator examines the percentage of older adults who have not had any leisure time physical activity in the past month.
Being physically active contributes substantially to healthy aging. Regular physical activity can help prevent or control many of the health problems (e.g., high blood pressure; depression; obesity; and diabetes) that often reduce the quality and length of life for older adults. Adults in the United States, however, tend to become less active as they age.
Strength training is of particular importance to older adults, as it can provide relief from arthritis pain; improve balance and reduce the risk of falling; strengthen bones; and reduce blood glucose levels.¹
Calls to Action:
- Increasing physical activity among older adults: Strategies from the National Blueprint
- Increasing physical activity among older adults: Promoting environmental changes
Evidence-Based Programs:

Reference:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Growing stronger: why strength training for older adults? Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/growing_stronger/why.htm (accessed October 1, 2009).

2009 State-by-State Report Card
No Leisure-Time Physical Activity (%)

Make Comparisons

Healthy People 2010 Targets

Does not include territories

Location	Data	C.I.^†	Rank ^‡	Grade ^§
United States	32.7	(32.2 – 33.1)	~	~
Alabama	36.1	(33.3 – 39.0)	41
Alaska	32.1	(25.5 – 38.7)	21
Arizona	26.2	(23.4 – 29.1)	6
Arkansas	37.3	(34.4 – 40.3)	43
California	27.2	(25.5 – 28.9)	7
Colorado	24.8	(23.0 – 26.6)	1
Connecticut	30.6	(28.2 – 33.0)	17
Delaware	29.3	(26.4 – 32.2)	11
District of Columbia	27.8	(24.7 – 30.8)	9
Florida	31.4	(29.5 – 33.4)	19
Georgia	33.9	(31.2 – 36.6)	31
Hawaii	25.0	(22.3 – 27.6)	3
Idaho	32.4	(29.8 – 35.0)	23
Illinois	34.6	(32.0 – 37.2)	34
Indiana	39.2	(37.0 – 41.4)	46
Iowa	35.3	(33.0 – 37.7)	37
Kansas	32.5	(31.2 – 33.8)	25
Kentucky	40.8	(38.1 – 43.4)	50
Louisiana	35.5	(33.4 – 37.7)	39
Maine	29.8	(27.8 – 31.9)	13
Maryland	32.6	(30.1 – 35.1)	26
Massachusetts	30.5	(28.6 – 32.3)	16
Michigan	33.0	(31.0 – 34.9)	27
Minnesota	25.1	(23.0 – 27.3)	4
Mississippi	39.2	(37.4 – 41.1)	47
Missouri	37.3	(34.4 – 40.3)	43
Montana	32.4	(30.2 – 34.6)	24
Nebraska	34.0	(32.1 – 36.0)	32
Nevada	32.0	(28.3 – 35.8)	20
New Hampshire	30.2	(27.7 – 32.7)	14
New Jersey	35.4	(33.3 – 37.6)	38
New Mexico	27.6	(25.5 – 29.6)	8
New York	33.1	(30.5 – 35.7)	29
North Carolina	35.2	(32.9 – 37.5)	36
North Dakota	36.9	(34.2 – 39.7)	42
Ohio	38.0	(35.9 – 40.2)	45
Oklahoma	39.4	(37.3 – 41.6)	48
Oregon	25.6	(23.2 – 28.1)	5
Pennsylvania	34.3	(32.2 – 36.4)	33
Rhode Island	35.1	(32.6 – 37.6)	35
South Carolina	30.9	(28.6 – 33.2)	18
South Dakota	35.6	(33.2 – 38.0)	40
Tennessee	39.7	(37.0 – 42.5)	49
Texas	33.0	(30.5 – 35.5)	27
Utah	27.9	(25.8 – 29.9)	10
Vermont	29.4	(27.2 – 31.6)	12
Virginia	32.2	(29.1 – 35.2)	22
Washington	24.9	(23.6 – 26.2)	2
West Virginia	43.2	(40.5 – 46.0)	51
Wisconsin	33.6	(30.0 – 37.2)	30
Wyoming	30.3	(28.0 – 32.5)	15


	= Upper Third (top performing 33%)
	= Middle Third (middle 33%)
	= Lower Third (lowest performing 33%)

†	A confidence interval (CI) describes the level of uncertainty of an estimate and specifies the range in which the true value is likely to fall. The State of Aging and Health in America online report uses a 95% level of significance, which means that 95% of the time, the true value falls within these boundaries. When comparing prevalence of variables across states or years, we recommend the use of confidence intervals. If the confidence intervals overlap, the difference is not statistically significant.

‡	Rankings are based on the relative numeric scores for each indicator, with a ranking of "1" indicating the highest rank.

§	Grades are calculated as tertiles (thirds) and show state performance relative to all other states.

~	Data not available.

Indicator Summary

No Leisure-Time Physical Activity

2009 State-by-State Report CardNo Leisure-Time Physical Activity (%)

2009 State-by-State Report Card
No Leisure-Time Physical Activity (%)