CDC's 2015–2018 maps ranged from 17.3% to 47.7% inactive adults across states and territories is the headline reference in this brief.
CDC's 2015–2018 state maps reported adult leisure-time inactivity estimates ranging from 17.3% to 47.7% across states and territories. The map is useful for identifying variation worth investigating, but it is not a league table for gyms. The measure excludes activity at a regular job and comes from BRFSS interviews.
A useful comparison record
Capture the state or territory, map period, inactivity definition, estimate, and source URL together. If a studio serves a small radius, a state estimate is only a broad context. Local participant counts should not be presented as a state prevalence estimate.
| Map detail | Reported value | Do not infer |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest displayed estimate | 17.3% | Best market or easiest conversion |
| Highest displayed estimate | 47.7% | Cause of inactivity |
| Data period | 2015–2018 | Current 2026 behavior |
Research-to-operations handoff
An assistant can maintain a dated evidence register, annotate a market brief, and keep local survey questions consistent. A program owner decides whether a barrier study, schedule change, or partnership is appropriate. The map does not answer whether people want a particular service, can afford it, or have safe access.
Limits and FAQ
State estimates describe adult leisure-time inactivity, not exercise outcomes, membership demand, or class fill. Survey error and the age of the data are material limitations. Keep them in the article or report rather than hiding them in a footnote.
Can the range be used as a ranking?
It can be displayed as a range, but ranking implies precision the source does not establish.
What is the next local measure?
Define a local population, response method, period, and missing-data rule before collecting answers.
Sources and related research
The CDC archived map is the source. See /research/rural-urban-fitness-participation-gap for a different geographic comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What does the CDC's 2015–2018 maps ranged from 17.3% to 47.7% inactive adults across states and territories figure mean on this page?
It is the headline benchmark described in the article and attributed to the listed primary source. Read the definition, date, population, and limits before applying it to a fitness business.
How should a fitness team use this research?
Use it as a documented reference beside the team's own operating records. It does not replace local data, coaching judgment, medical advice, or a qualified professional's decision.
What can a fitness virtual assistant do with the source record?
An assistant can maintain source links, verification dates, definitions, and exception queues. The business owner or qualified professional keeps policy, coaching, health, legal, and financial decisions.
Discuss your fitness administration workflow
Bring the current process, handoff points, and exceptions. We will help you decide which administrative work is suitable for remote support.
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