©istockphoto.com/Tatiana Sviridova

New Jersey residents are becoming less active, and it’s impacting their health.

A team of analysts from QuoteWizard found that obesity rates have risen by 12% in New Jersey since 2018. QuoteWizard analyzed data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from 2018-21 to determine exercise and obesity rates in each state. The CDC considers anyone with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 to be obese.

The report shows 76 percent of people in NJ exercise at least once a month, but 28 percent of our residents are considered obese.

In comparison, Colorado, Utah and Washington are the most physically active states; but Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas are the least physically active states.

Nationally, exercise rates have fallen 1 percent and obesity rates have risen 10 percent over the past 4 years. Obesity rates have increased by as much as 30 percent in some states.

Some good news is that exercise rates increased during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, while obesity rates declined. The study discovered that despite gym closures, lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, the number of people who exercised went from 74% in 2019 to 78% in 2020, before dropping down to 76% in 2021.

NJ ranked 26 on the list of the most physically active states. The top states with residents who move around a lot are:

  1. Colorado
  2. Utah
  3. Washington
  4. Vermont
  5. Oregon
  6. Hawaii
  7. New Hampshire
  8. California
  9. Minnesota
  10. Alaska

Are you looking to move around more? Even though it’s cold you can bundle up and take a hike, or for winter weather lovers there are opportunities to go ice skating or snowshoeing. Grab your girlfriends and power walk around the mall or get the kids ready for a night of rollerskating.

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