The Most Sedentary Cities in the US: Top 50 Rankings

Does where you live significantly affect your activity levels? Research suggests that some cities in the United States are far less active than others.

Many factors contribute to why residents in certain cities may not be as active as they should be, with a city's walkability being a key influence. People who can walk to grocery stores, movie theaters, or coffee shops easily will naturally accumulate more steps throughout their day. Those who rely on cars or public transportation often find it harder to reach the recommended 10,000 steps per day.

Another factor at play is the cost of living in various cities. If paying rent and taking care of other bills is overwhelming to a person, their work hours will be prioritized over their fitness time. Stressing over finances often results in people spending more time on the job to make ends meet instead of focusing on their fitness plans. Those who live affordable lifestyles can shift their focus to exercise routines, but that isn’t the case for everyone.

A third factor revolves around how many exercise facilities and fast food restaurants are located in any particular city. If there are more fast food joints than gyms, it’s easy for a person’s health status to get thrown off track. Staying in good shape certainly requires dedication and determination. The harsh reality is that people who live in inactive cities have higher rates of obesity with shorter life expectancies. It’s still possible to live fulfilling and healthy lives in inactive cities, but it’ll be a bit more challenging. (On the topic of health and wellness, see a ranking of all 50 states based on exercise.)

To determine America’s most inactive metros, 24/7 Tempo reviewed adult physical inactivity rates from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program’s 2023 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps report. The physical inactivity rate is defined as the share of adults 20 years and older who report no leisure-time physical activity. We used the 384 metropolitan statistical areas as delineated by the United States Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau as our definition of metros. Additional information on the share of adults 20 years and older who report a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher (considered obese), the share of adults reporting poor or fair health, and the life expectancy at birth also came from the 2023 CHR.

• Adults who don't exercise: 28.4%
• Adult obesity rate: 39.2% — 43. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 17.8% — 67. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 75.8 years — 302. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 28.4%
• Adult obesity rate: 39.1% — 44. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.6% — 47. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 75.1 years — 339. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 28.6%
• Adult obesity rate: 38.2% — 80. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 19.2% — 32. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 77.5 years — 207. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 28.6%
• Adult obesity rate: 34.1% — 217. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 16.4% — 108. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 77.4 years — 218. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 28.6%
• Adult obesity rate: 37.0% — 110. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.1% — 58. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 76.2 years — 286. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 28.7%
• Adult obesity rate: 38.9% — 58. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 19.0% — 39. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 74.1 years — 368. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 28.7%
• Adult obesity rate: 35.7% — 160. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 16.7% — 99. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 75.5 years — 319. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 28.9%
• Adult obesity rate: 38.0% — 85. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 21.7% — 9. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 78.2 years — 164. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 28.9%
• Adult obesity rate: 39.1% — 46. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.2% — 55. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 76.4 years — 280. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.0%
• Adult obesity rate: 29.6% — 329. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 17.4% — 81. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 81.5 years — 27. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.0%
• Adult obesity rate: 36.7% — 120. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 16.3% — 113. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 73.9 years — 373. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.0%
• Adult obesity rate: 44.4% — 2. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 19.1% — 34. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 75.3 years — 328. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.1%
• Adult obesity rate: 36.0% — 147. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 22.8% — 7. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 77.8 years — 194. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.1%
• Adult obesity rate: 40.7% — 22. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.3% — 52. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 76.5 years — 273. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.2%
• Adult obesity rate: 38.4% — 72. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.5% — 48. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 74.3 years — 361. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.2%
• Adult obesity rate: 40.1% — 29. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 17.3% — 82. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 74.2 years — 366. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.3%
• Adult obesity rate: 41.1% — 17. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 19.1% — 35. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 72.5 years — 383. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.3%
• Adult obesity rate: 40.5% — 26. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.7% — 45. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 75.2 years — 334. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.4%
• Adult obesity rate: 40.5% — 25. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 21.1% — 12. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 80.5 years — 50. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.6%
• Adult obesity rate: 39.1% — 51. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 19.2% — 30. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 77.8 years — 193. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.6%
• Adult obesity rate: 37.9% — 89. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 16.4% — 110. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 75.0 years — 341. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.6%
• Adult obesity rate: 39.6% — 34. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.9% — 42. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 75.3 years — 330. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.6%
• Adult obesity rate: 41.4% — 14. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 20.0% — 20. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 73.6 years — 375. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.6%
• Adult obesity rate: 41.3% — 15. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.8% — 44. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 74.3 years — 363. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 29.7%
• Adult obesity rate: 39.1% — 45. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 19.4% — 27. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 73.3 years — 378. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 30.0%
• Adult obesity rate: 42.2% — 9. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 19.1% — 37. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 75.4 years — 323. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 30.1%
• Adult obesity rate: 38.1% — 81. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.3% — 54. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 74.2 years — 365. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 30.3%
• Adult obesity rate: 37.7% — 92. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 22.8% — 5. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 78.1 years — 171. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 30.5%
• Adult obesity rate: 41.8% — 12. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 21.7% — 8. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 71.9 years — 384. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 30.5%
• Adult obesity rate: 39.0% — 54. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 19.7% — 23. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 72.6 years — 381. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 30.6%
• Adult obesity rate: 37.6% — 95. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.9% — 40. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 76.2 years — 288. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 30.7%
• Adult obesity rate: 38.4% — 70. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 17.7% — 71. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 74.5 years — 355. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 30.8%
• Adult obesity rate: 35.7% — 159. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 17.8% — 63. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 74.6 years — 353. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 30.8%
• Adult obesity rate: 36.8% — 116. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 20.1% — 18. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 75.4 years — 326. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 30.8%
• Adult obesity rate: 41.7% — 13. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.4% — 51. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 72.6 years — 382. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 31.1%
• Adult obesity rate: 39.6% — 33. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 20.4% — 15. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 73.8 years — 374. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 31.2%
• Adult obesity rate: 39.4% — 36. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.0% — 60. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 75.4 years — 324. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 31.6%
• Adult obesity rate: 42.0% — 11. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 19.4% — 28. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 74.9 years — 344. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 31.6%
• Adult obesity rate: 40.3% — 27. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 19.6% — 25. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 75.9 years — 297. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 31.7%
• Adult obesity rate: 39.3% — 42. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 20.2% — 16. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 75.1 years — 338. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 31.7%
• Adult obesity rate: 36.2% — 138. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 24.0% — 4. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 79.0 years — 115. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 32.0%
• Adult obesity rate: 39.0% — 53. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 19.9% — 22. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 76.6 years — 264. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 32.1%
• Adult obesity rate: 40.6% — 24. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 21.1% — 13. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 77.1 years — 236. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 32.3%
• Adult obesity rate: 43.2% — 3. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 18.6% — 46. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 73.5 years — 376. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 33.0%
• Adult obesity rate: 42.4% — 8. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 20.8% — 14. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 73.3 years — 377. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 33.1%
• Adult obesity rate: 42.7% — 7. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 28.2% — 2. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 78.8 years — 131. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 33.4%
• Adult obesity rate: 42.9% — 5. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 28.3% — 1. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 79.5 years — 91. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 33.4%
• Adult obesity rate: 40.8% — 19. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 19.5% — 26. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 74.6 years — 352. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 33.7%
• Adult obesity rate: 42.9% — 6. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 22.8% — 6. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 72.9 years — 379. out of 384 metro areas

• Adults who don't exercise: 38.0%
• Adult obesity rate: 44.6% — 1. out of 384 metro areas
• Adults in poor or fair health: 27.4% — 3. out of 384 metro areas
• Life expectancy: 78.5 years — 143. out of 384 metro areas

(Take a look at the healthiest cities in the U.S.)