skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Survey: More Americans Walk for Exercise During Pandemic

play audio
Play

Wednesday, August 12, 2020   

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- More Americans say walking has been their preferred method of exercise since the pandemic began, according to a new survey by UnitedHealthcare. One in five adults says COVID-19 also has prompted them to reach for healthier foods and improve their eating habits.

Rebecca Madsen, chief consumer officer for UnitedHealthcare, said research shows walking has numerous benefits, including preventing bone loss, improving circulation and even lowering the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Madsen added that three-quarters of baby boomers surveyed said they walk regularly.

"This is really good news because, first of all, it's a great way to stay healthy," she said, and second of all, it's a COVID-friendly activity. It's something you can do as a solo activity, but you can also do it with a friend and still maintain social distancing."

According to cdc.gov2018 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 32% of Kentucky adults reported not engaging in any form of regular physical activity. Another, older study found that in rural areas of Appalachia, physical inactivity rates are much higher - due in part to lack of access to sidewalks, recreational facilities and organized group exercise.

Madsen said employer-sponsored wellness programs can encourage families to keep up healthy behaviors.

"If you offer a program, make sure that it focuses on things that are really easy and accessible for consumers around walking, diet, etc.," she said, "and if you don't offer a program, now would be a great time to do it, because we know health matters more than ever."

The survey found more than 77% of respondents who had access to employer wellness programs said the initiatives have positively affected their health. Wellness programs also helped 17% of respondents manage a chronic condition, such as diabetes, or helped detect a medical condition.

The survey is online at newsroom.uhc.com, the CDC data is at cdc.gov, and the rural Kentucky study is at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Disclosure: United Healthcare's IN-KY Region contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Opponents of a South Dakota bill that would require the Ten Commandments be posted in all public school classrooms say it would be an unfunded mandate. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A South Dakota House committee takes up a controversial bill today that would require all school districts in the state to display the Ten Commandment…


play sound

Virginia ranks third behind only Maryland and Delaware among the worst states for the average amount of back wages companies owe to their workers…

Environment

play sound

Some North Dakota school districts are part of a movement that has embraced electric school buses, but the federal funding shakeup carried out by the …


Florida immigrant advocacy groups are intensifying efforts to help undocumented individuals navigate encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. (David Peinado/Pexels)

Social Issues

play sound

Immigrant advocates in Florida are ramping up efforts to help families navigate President Donald Trump's new immigration orders, which have increased …

Social Issues

play sound

The rate of U.S. high school seniors seeking higher education is on the upswing, according to research from Lumina Foundation. Although Hoosier …

Gov. Kathy Hochul's free community college proposal would apply to people pursuing first-time associate degrees for jobs in high-demand fields, including nursing, teaching, technology and engineering. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

New York State is making historic higher education investments. As part of the 2026 budget proposal, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes free community …

Social Issues

play sound

Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed state budget includes a significant increase for public education to address Pennsylvania's school funding issues and …

Social Issues

play sound

Alabama nonprofits are coming together to tackle challenges that may threaten their survival, from declining donor support to shifting federal …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021