All Polk County citizens live healthier, more active lifestyles through fostering community connection.
Polk County % No Leisure-Time Physical Activity
Current Value
24%
Definition
% of individuals reporting no leisure-time physical activity in Polk County, defined in the prompt, "During the past month, other than your regular job, did you participate in any physical activities or exercises, such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise?"
Story Behind the Indicator
24% of Polk County respondents reported having no leisure-time physical activity— that is, no physical activity outside of the workplace— in the past month. This was an increase of over 7% from 2021, reflecting an overall increase in sedentary lifestyles in Polk County since 2012. A lack of exercise can increase one's risk for chronic illness, chronic pain, mental health concerns, and some cancers. This trend brings to question the reason for diminished physical activity, and what we can do, as a county, to reverse the trend.
What's Helping? These are the positive forces at work, either within our community, or beyond our community, that help to inspire our selected strategies.
Healthy Eating
- School nutrition education
- Healthy food in schools
- Increasing healthy food distribution sites
- Offering healthy lifestyle classes
Active Living
- Improved hiking trails
- Access to (affordable) gyms
- Parks and walking/biking trails
- Availability of free activity opportunities
What's Hurting? These are the negative forces at work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.
Healthy Eating
- Cost of healthy foods
- Lack of local gardens
- Lack of transportation
- Generational obesity
- Unhealthy cultural diets
- Food insecurity
Active Living
- Lack of funding for infrastructure
- Lack of knowledge of available programs
- Lack of transportation
- Previous activity habits
- Excess screen time and limited exercise in children
- Post-hurricane park and trail closures
Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.