Using five years of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Businessweek.com ranks the Bayou State the laziest in the country. Using five years of data (2004 to 2008) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Businessweek.com ranks the Bayou State the laziest in the country. The report, published Monday, makes it clear that the "lazy" doesn't mean lacking work ethic or engagement, but is more a measure of sedentary leisure time versus exercising - "and even working." The CDC's research shows that nearly 30 percent of the state's residents do not get any exercise; that sedentary lifestyle coupled with our delicious food is taking its toll.
So while hunting, fishing and outdoor sporting activities earned Louisiana the nickname Sportsman's Paradise, notes Bloomberg Businessweek, new data indicate that more popular pastimes are sleeping, goofing off and watching TV. Here's what Businessweek found:
While residents in developed areas such as New Orleans, a compact city with sidewalks, gyms, and outdoor events, have opportunities to be active, Louisianans in the rest of the state spend more time at sedentary activities than the average American. According to BLS data, for example, they sleep an average 8 hours and 44 minutes per day, watch an average 3 hours and 5 minutes of television, socialize for 54 minutes, and relax for 29 minutes. The average time spent working among all Louisianans - 2 hours, 41 minutes - is shorter than in all other states, according to the BLS data.
The average for the U.S. population: 8 hours, 35 minutes sleeping; 2 hours, 38 minutes watching television; 44 minutes socializing; 18 minutes relaxing; and 3 hours, 23 minutes working. Looked at another way, Louisianans over the course of a year spend on average 3,285 more minutes sleeping and 9,855 more minutes watching television than the national average.
Mississippi and Arkansas came in second and third, respectively, and North Dakota was the most active state. The report noted that the state spends about $1.4 billion each year on obesity-related medical expenses. Read the rest of the discouraging story here.