Special Report

50 Cities Getting the Least Exercise

Thomas C. Frohlich

Published: February 6, 2018 5:22 pm

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 3:40 am

Staying in shape during the winter can be quite the challenge. Americans seem to manage though. Gym membership in the United States has been trending upward for at least a decade, and more Americans are getting the recommended amount of physical activity.

Despite these increases, the obesity rate has also risen. With more than a third of American adults considered obese and more than half overweight, the rising interest in in fitness and sports may not be surprising.

Approximately 22% of adults fail to get any exercise whatsoever outside of work. In some cities, that percentage is much higher. In some cities, where residents often do not have access to gyms, recreation centers, and parks, the proportion of adults getting no regular activity frequently exceeds 33%.

To identify the cities getting the least exercise, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of two measures: the share of adults in a metro area who are physically active during their leisure time and the share of the population who has access to areas for physical activities outside of their homes.

The least physically active metropolitan areas are clustered in certain regions. Of the 50 cities getting the least exercise, seven are in Tennessee, six are in West Virginia, and another five are in Alabama. While Southern states are well-represented in the list of cities where the population is not getting a healthy amount of exercise, residents of Western and some Northeastern states by contrast are typically far more active.

Click here to see the cities getting the least exercise.
Click here to see the cities getting the most exercise.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock

50. Macon-Bibb County, Georgia
> Population: 226,998
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 27.5% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 67.2% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 31.5%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.8% (top 25%)

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49. Knoxville, Tennessee
> Population: 869,076
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 29.4% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 72.1%
> Obesity rate: 31.0%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.6% (top 25%)

Source: faungg's photos / Flickr

48. Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana
> Population: 211,525
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 32.7% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 80.3%
> Obesity rate: 38.3% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.9% (top 25%)

Source: Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr

47. Hinesville, Georgia
> Population: 82,687
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 26.2% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 62.7% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 34.1% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 20.4% (top 25%)

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Source: Thinkstock

46. Johnson City, Tennessee
> Population: 200,449
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 31.9% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 77.2%
> Obesity rate: 32.2%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 20.9% (top 25%)

Source: Robert Couse-Baker / Flickr

45. Sumter, South Carolina
> Population: 107,396
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 27.8% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 66.6% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 34.4% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.6% (top 25%)

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44. Valdosta, Georgia
> Population: 144,504
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 26.5% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 63.0% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 31.6%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 21.0% (top 10%)

Source: Luca Masters / Flickr

43. Greenville, North Carolina
> Population: 177,220
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 25.7%
> Population with access to exercise locations: 61.0% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 34.3% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 21.2% (top 10%)

Source: Thinkstock

42. Cape Girardeau, Missouri
> Population: 94,806
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 27.1% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 63.6% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 31.8%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.9% (top 25%)

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41. Charleston, West Virginia
> Population: 219,579
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 28.3% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 66.7% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 33.0% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 21.5% (top 10%)

Source: Thinkstock

40. Jackson, Mississippi
> Population: 580,178
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 30.6% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 71.6%
> Obesity rate: 33.3% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 20.6% (top 25%)

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39. Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia
> Population: 359,588
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 30.1% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 70.2% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 35.9% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 20.8% (top 25%)

Source: Jim Grey / Flickr

38. Terre Haute, Indiana
> Population: 169,518
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 28.3% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 65.6% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 32.9% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.0%

Source: Thinkstock

37. Wheeling, West Virginia
> Population: 142,982
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 27.0% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 62.1% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 33.2% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.6% (top 25%)

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36. Vineland-Bridgeton, New Jersey
> Population: 153,797
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 28.3% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 65.4% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 34.5% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 20.2% (top 25%)

Source: Thinkstock

35. Lake Charles, Louisiana
> Population: 207,432
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 31.6% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 73.5%
> Obesity rate: 32.3% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.8% (top 25%)

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34. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas
> Population: 409,901
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 29.6% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 68.1% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 32.1%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.6% (top 25%)

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33. Parkersburg-Vienna, West Virginia
> Population: 90,554
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 29.1% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 66.1% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 36.0% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 20.6% (top 25%)

Source: Leadinglights / iStock

32. Jackson, Tennessee
> Population: 129,527
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 28.9% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 65.3% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 33.8% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 22.1% (top 10%)

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31. Odessa, Texas
> Population: 157,462
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 31.3% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 71.4% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 31.6%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 20.5% (top 25%)

Source: Tom Whitten / Flickr

30. Weirton-Steubenville, West Virginia
> Population: 120,861
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 29.1% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 65.7% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 36.6% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.0% (top 25%)

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29. St. Joseph, Missouri
> Population: 127,528
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 27.9% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 62.3% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 32.5% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.5% (top 25%)

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28. Albany, Georgia
> Population: 152,506
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 27.9% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 62.4% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 33.8% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 22.4% (top 10%)

Source: Pears2295 / iStock

27. Joplin, Missouri
> Population: 177,805
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 28.3% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 62.4% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 33.7% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.2%

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Source: Thinkstock

26. Monroe, Louisiana
> Population: 179,470
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 30.2% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 66.9% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 35.5% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 21.6% (top 10%)

Source: Brent Moore / Flickr

25. Decatur, Alabama
> Population: 152,256
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 30.2% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 66.4% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 32.4% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.5% (top 25%)

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24. Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, North Carolina
> Population: 364,187
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 26.9% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 57.7% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 31.4%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 16.9%

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23. Lawton, Oklahoma
> Population: 127,762
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 29.9% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 64.1% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 34.9% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 20.1% (top 25%)

Source: John Siegenthaler / Wikimedia Commons

22. Mansfield, Ohio
> Population: 121,107
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 28.9% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 61.4% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 32.8% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 16.6%

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21. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Arizona
> Population: 205,249
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 30.2% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 64.7% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 29.6%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 17.3%

Source: Thinkstock

20. Clarksville, Tennessee
> Population: 282,075
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 27.0% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 54.2% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 31.2%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 22.1% (top 10%)

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Source: OZinOH / Flickr

19. Florence, South Carolina
> Population: 205,976
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 30.0% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 61.6% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 35.3% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.4% (top 25%)

Source: Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons

18. Longview, Texas
> Population: 217,446
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 28.0% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 56.0% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 33.1% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 17.9%

Source: Katherine Welles / Shutterstock.com

17. Bowling Green, Kentucky
> Population: 174,560
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 27.2% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 53.4% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 32.0%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.8% (top 25%)

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Source: DM / Flickr

16. Morristown, Tennessee
> Population: 117,320
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 31.0% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 63.1% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 32.4% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 20.7% (top 25%)

Source: Thinkstock

15. Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, Tennessee
> Population: 307,723
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 32.7% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 66.4% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 30.5%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 17.9%

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Source: Andrew Jameson / Wikimedia Commons

14. Cleveland, Tennessee
> Population: 123,861
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 34.6% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 69.7% (bottom 25%)
> Obesity rate: 34.9% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.5% (top 25%)

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13. Florence-Muscle Shoals, Alabama
> Population: 146,534
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 29.4% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 55.8% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 34.6% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.0% (top 25%)

Source: Bryant Johnson / Flickr

12. Goldsboro, North Carolina
> Population: 124,150
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 27.0% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 48.5% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 34.4% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 22.8% (top 10%)

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Source: Wikimedia Commons

11. Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, Alabama
> Population: 114,611
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 31.3% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 59.3% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 32.2%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 22.0% (top 10%)

Source: Thinkstock

10. Fort Smith, Arkansas
> Population: 281,227
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 30.7% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 57.7% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 36.2% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 22.1% (top 10%)

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9. Farmington, New Mexico
> Population: 115,079
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 23.0%
> Population with access to exercise locations: 36.4% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 31.7%
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.9% (top 25%)

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8. Hammond, Louisiana
> Population: 130,710
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 33.0% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 61.7% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 39.1% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 21.2% (top 10%)

Source: Ecjmartin1 / Wikimedia Commons

7. Dothan, Alabama
> Population: 147,834
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 27.0% (top 25%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 46.2% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 33.4% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 20.2% (top 25%)

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6. Rocky Mount, North Carolina
> Population: 147,323
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 30.5% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 53.0% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 34.9% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 22.3% (top 10%)

Source: Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com

5. Texarkana, Texas
> Population: 149,721
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 31.3% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 53.0% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 33.5% (top 25%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.8% (top 25%)

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4. Jonesboro, Arkansas
> Population: 129,858
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 31.3% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 52.7% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 36.8% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 21.4% (top 10%)

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3. Pine Bluff, Arkansas
> Population: 94,071
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 34.0% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 55.3% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 39.8% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 25.5% (top 10%)

Source: astonishme / Flickr

2. Beckley, West Virginia
> Population: 120,924
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 31.3% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 47.2% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 35.6% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 24.2% (top 10%)

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1. Gadsden, Alabama
> Population: 102,564
> Adults who do not exercise outside of work: 33.3% (top 10%)
> Population with access to exercise locations: 44.0% (bottom 10%)
> Obesity rate: 35.1% (top 10%)
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.7% (top 25%)