Study: Americans fatter, more sedentary than ever; Missouri among most sedentary states

According to a new detailed study of the time Americans spend on daily actifvities, reported in a Tri-Valley Herald story:

Americans are fatter than ever and a new study provides a sobering look at one of the root causes: We spend more time sitting watching TV and driving around in cars than we do on all types of physical activity combined. . . .

"We do need to notice that we spend nine times as much time watching TV and playing video games as we do on physical activity, and we need to try to address those problems," she said. "We need to build (exercise) into our everyday activities."

Use the stairs more, Block said, or park farther from the shopping mall entrance. Walk the 15 minutes to your lunchtime eatery next time, she said, or turn off the TV after watching your favorite show and take a walk around the block. . . .

People in middle America also spend less energy on physical activity than residents of other regions. Energy expended on physical activity was highest in the Pacific (which includes California), Mountain and New England regions, and lowest in the "central region" -- Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.