Ten States With Fewest Couch Potatoes, and Where Colorado Rests

We recently noted that Denver has been falling on the list of most fit cities. But Colorado as a whole is still among the least lethargic states in the country — at least according to the amusing metric Estately has put together to determine which states have the most couch...

By Michael Roberts

June 19, 2015

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We recently noted that Denver has been falling on the list of most fit cities.

But Colorado as a whole is still among the least lethargic states in the country — at least according to the amusing metric Estately has put together to determine which states have the most couch potatoes.

The key measurements involve hours per day spent watching TV, Laz-E-Boy retailers per capita, fast-food restaurants per capita, the least amount of exercise, the obesity rate, the fewest hours of work per day, greatest interest in soap operas on Facebook and Google searches for video-game rentals.

Scientific? Not exactly — but Colorado wound up among the ten with the fewest couch potatoes, so we're not complaining.

Count down the photo-illustrated bottom ten below, complete with Estately data — and to read the original post, click here.

Number 41: Massachusetts
Hours per day spent watching TV: 21st
Laz-E-Boy retailers per capita: 27th
Fast food restaurants per capita: 48th
Exercises least frequently: 21st
Obesity rate: 46th
Works fewest hours per day: 3rd
Expressed interest in soap operas on Facebook: 43rd
Google searches for video-game rentals: 48th

Number 42: Wyoming
Hours per day spent watching TV: 50th
Laz-E-Boy retailers per capita: 50th
Fast food restaurants per capita: 21st
Exercises least frequently: 46th
Obesity rate: 25th
Works fewest hours per day: 2nd
Expressed interest in soap operas on Facebook: 22nd
Google searches for video-game rentals: 43rd

Number 43: New Hampshire
Hours per day spent watching TV: 35th
Laz-E-Boy retailers per capita: 13th
Fast food restaurants per capita: 44th
Exercises least frequently: 39th
Obesity rate: 29th
Works fewest hours per day: 48th
Expressed interest in soap operas on Facebook: 32nd
Google searches for video-game rentals: 43rd

Number 44: Vermont
Hours per day spent watching TV: 47th
Laz-E-Boy retailers per capita: 26th
Fast food restaurants per capita: 50th
Exercises least frequently: 42nd
Obesity rate: 31st
Works fewest hours per day: 11th
Expressed interest in soap operas on Facebook: 31st
Google searches for video-game rentals: 49th

Number 45: Montana
Hours per day spent watching TV: 35th
Laz-E-Boy retailers per capita: 50th
Fast food restaurants per capita: 33rd
Exercises least frequently: 48th
Obesity rate: 48th
Works fewest hours per day: 16th
Expressed interest in soap operas on Facebook: 34th
Google searches for video-game rentals: 32nd

Number 46: South Dakota
Hours per day spent watching TV: 37th
Laz-E-Boy retailers per capita: 50th
Fast food restaurants per capita: 26th
Exercises least frequently: 41st
Obesity rate: 44th
Works fewest hours per day: 44th
Expressed interest in soap operas on Facebook: 21st
Google searches for video-game rentals: 40th

Number 47: Minnesota
Hours per day spent watching TV: 42nd
Laz-E-Boy retailers per capita: 37th
Fast food restaurants per capita: 27th
Exercises least frequently: 31st
Obesity rate: 42nd
Works fewest hours per day: 39th
Expressed interest in soap operas on Facebook: 43rd
Google searches for video-game rentals: 47th

Number 48: Utah
Hours per day spent watching TV: 49th
Laz-E-Boy retailers per capita: 42nd
Fast food restaurants per capita: 35th
Exercises least frequently: 44th
Obesity rate: 40th
Works fewest hours per day: 29th
Expressed interest in soap operas on Facebook: 47th
Google searches for video-game rentals: 22nd

Number 49: Colorado
Hours per day spent watching TV: 45th
Laz-E-Boy retailers per capita: 16th
Fast food restaurants per capita: 31st
Exercises least frequently: 45th
Obesity rate: 49th
Works fewest hours per day: 46th
Expressed interest in soap operas on Facebook: 42nd
Google searches for video-game rentals: 46th

Number 50:Hawaii
Hours per day spent watching TV: 41st
Laz-E-Boy retailers per capita: 41st
Fast food restaurants per capita: 37th
Exercises least frequently: 49th
Obesity rate: 50th
Works fewest hours per day: 34th
Expressed interest in soap operas on Facebook: 49th
Google searches for video-game rentals: 38th
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

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