Tulsa is the least physically active large U.S. city

Despite a growing interest in health awareness, COVID-19 led to a sharp, immediate decline in physical activity among U.S. adults as gyms closed and residents increasingly stayed home. A recent study by the American College of Physicians using fitness trackers found that average daily step counts were down 15 percent in the United States within two weeks of COVID-19 being declared a pandemic. A new analysis shows that, of the 50 largest U.S. cities, Tulsa is the least physically active, and only one state, Mississippi, is less physically active than Oklahoma.

Globally, the average number of steps taken per day decreased by 27.3 percent within a month. As Americans settle into the new normal of COVID-19, residents living in areas with convenient outdoor access, and who embrace new at-home fitness technologies, are more likely to maintain high levels of activity in the months ahead.

Researchers at Retailmenot analyzed recent CDC data to find the most physically active cities in the United States. Apparent in their findings was a strong correlation between physical activity among adults and both physical and mental health.

Researchers also compiled median household income and poverty rate data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey for all locations. Retailmenot’s researchers compared this income and poverty data to the CDC’S health data. Generally, cities with higher median incomes reported higher rates of physical activity. Additionally, higher poverty rates correlated with lower reported rates of physical activity.

The analysis found that in Tulsa, 66.0% of adults reported being physically active outside of work within the last 30 days, which is lower than the national average of 73.7%. Out of all large U.S. cities, Tulsa is the 6th least physically active.

The analysis showed that, in Tulsa, 66.0% of adults are physically active, 85.8% are in good physical health, and 83.9% are in good mental health. Tulsa has a median household income of $49,158, and a poverty rate of 18.6%.

Nationwide, 73.7% of adults are physically active, 87.4% are in good physical health, and 86.2% are in good mental health. The national median household income is $65,712, and the poverty rate is 12.3%.

Geographically, Mountain and Western states have the highest percentage of physically active adults in the United States, with Utah and Colorado leading the way at 81.5 percent and 81.3 percent, respectively. Washington and Montana also show more than 80 percent of adults as being physically active. The states with the lowest percentage of physically active adults are primarily in the South, with Oklahoma, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Alabama all reporting rates lower than 70 percent. In Mississippi, only 62.3 percent of adults report being physically active, the lowest percentage in the country.