Louisiana Named One of America’s Least Active States in New Study

(KMDL-FM) - I don't know about you, but I am seriously setting a goal in the new year to start a real health journey. I'm tired of not being as active as I should be.

And I'm also tired of seeing these lists that rank Louisianians among the least healthy in America.

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This latest study released by the health experts NiceRx is my last straw, and hopefully, it will fire up some of you as well. The data analyzed has revealed the state of health in the United States.

According to the list, Louisiana ranks as the third most physically inactive state in America. A whopping 30.8% of adults in our state are said to be physically inactive.

The data that made this determination was comprised of factors such as obesity rates, alcohol consumption, and physical activity levels. The research also revealed the states with the most fitness facilities and searches for weight loss medications per 100,000 people.

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Here are the top 10 most physically inactive states in the U.S., according to the NiceRx report (the number represents the percentage of physically inactive adults):

1. Mississippi - 33.2%
2. Arkansas - 31.1%
3. Louisiana - 30.8%
4. Alabama - 30.7%
5. Oklahoma - 30.5%
6. West Virginia - 30.1%
7. Tennessee - 28.9%
8. Indiana - 28.5%
9. Missouri - 27.8%
10. South Carolina - 27.6%

Here's the synopsis of Louisiana's ranking:

Louisiana scores high for obesity, with a 39.9% obesity rate, and is the overall most unhealthy US state, with an overall health score of just 2.54 out of 10, compared to Idaho, which is the healthiest state, with a score of 7.14 out of 10.

And as you can see, on the flip side, Idaho has been deemed the healthiest state in the US.

Health experts at NiceRx shared this advice to people seeking to become more physically active:

“Being physically active doesn’t have to be difficult. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommends that adults engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, in addition to two days of muscle-strengthening activities.1 This might sound daunting, but this can be spread over the week, equating to 30 minutes a day, five days a week. If you’re short on time, this can also be broken down into 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, such as jogging or running, per week.”