Introduction
In all but four states in the US, more than 1 in 5 adults are not active. Based on the CDC, being active is based on the amount of physical activity outside of work in the previous month, meaning that in 46 states more than 1 in 5 adults do no type of physical activity outside of work, activities such as running and walking. Despite this information, there initiatives being taken to make physical activity easier and more convenient for all American adults. The Madison Borough Health Department is responsible for local public health efforts.
Data
The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducts recurring telephone interviews that are state based. This is known as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). With the help of other state health departments, the CDC released estimates of physical inactivity in adults 18-64 in every US state.
Results
In Morris County, the estimated prevalence of physical inactivity among adults aged 18-64 years (%) was 17.8 with 95% CI (15.3, 20.4) , and the age-adjusted prevalence (%) was 16.7 (14.4, 19.2) in 2022. According to Census 2022 county population estimates, 511,151 people live in Morris. In the census tract with Drew University, the estimated prevalence of physical inactivity among adults aged 18-64 years (%) was 13.3 with 95% CI (11.3, 15.5) in 2022. This was the lowest prevalence in Madison. This is also lower than the County inactivity rate. According to Census 2020, there were 3,829 adults that are 18 or older that live in this tract.
Conclusion
By understanding the inactivity rates of different locations, the CDC and other partners can help to better the Active People, Healthy Nation℠ initiative and ensure that physical activity can become easier and more convenient for adults around the country. Physical activity has lots of benefits that include but are not limited to a reduction in stress and anxiety, reduction in cardiovascular disease risks, and lower risks of some common cancers. By looking at physical inactivity levels, the CDC can provide good reason for other actors to help provide more parks and open space that promote being active, which also happens to be a much cheaper method of healthcare than paying medical bills.
About the Data
PLACES, otherwise known as Place Level Analysis and Community Estimates, is a series of data sets that are collected by the CDC. The recent estimates are for 2020 and 2022. Other data sources visualized in the images here and on web maps are from the New Jersey Office of GIS (including County and Municipal Boundaries of New Jersey).
A web map of the county level PLACES results can be found here:
A web map of the census tract results for Madison can be found here:
