New CDC Report Says Many Americans Get No Exercise

Inactivity Is Greatest in the South and Appalachia, According to CDC

ABCNews.com—February 16, 2011

Exercise is key to good health and an essential tool in the fight against obesity, but new numbers suggest that many Americans don't get any physical activity at all.

In a checkup of the nation's health, the CDC found that fewer than two in 10 Americans get the recommended levels of exercise, and more than a quarter of U.S. adults do not devote any time to physical activity. The findings were published today in the agency's annual report on health statistics.

“When you look at the maps of obesity spreading across the country, it has just gotten bigger and bigger and bigger, and we have seen this correlation of people suffering from diabetes and hypertension,” said Dr. Jordan Metzl, sports medicine physician at Hospital for Special Surgery.

“The unfortunate model of our health care system is that we really treat disease by prescribing medicine more often than prescribing a simple walk around the block,” added Dr. Metzl.

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