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United States Value:
Percentage of adults age 65 and older who reported their physical health was not good 14 or more days in the past 30 days
Additional Measures:
Explore Population Data:
Appears In:
Percentage of non-Hispanic Asian adults age 65 and older who reported their physical health was not good 14 or more days in the past 30 days
14.6%
15.3%
16.9%
No Data
US Value: 17.6%
Top State(s): Maryland: 13.4%
Bottom State(s): Arkansas: 24.1%
Definition: Percentage of adults age 65 and older who reported their physical health was not good 14 or more days in the past 30 days
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Frequent physical distress aims to capture the population experiencing persistent and likely severe physical health problems that can significantly affect health-related quality of life and overall wellness. It is measured by asking survey respondents how many days they experienced poor physical health in the past month and quantifying those who report 14 or more physically unhealthy days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has validated the 14-day cutoff as constituting a substantial level of physical impairment.
Frequent physical distress is associated with smoking, obesity and physical inactivity, as well as chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There is also a strong relationship between physical and mental distress. Low physical activity, chronic illness and physical disability are all correlated with higher rates of psychological distress.
According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, populations with a higher prevalence of frequent physical distress include:
Strategies for managing frequent physical distress among older adults include exercise interventions that increase physical activity and encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors. Additionally, older adults can take care of their physical health by:
Boyer, William R., Natalie A. Indelicato, Michael R. Richardson, James R. Churilla, and Tammie M. Johnson. “Associations between Mental Distress and Physical Activity in US Adults: A Dose–Response Analysis BRFSS 2011.” Journal of Public Health 40, no. 2 (June 1, 2018): 289–94. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdx080.
Byles, Julie E., Ian Robinson, Emily Banks, Richard Gibson, Lucy Leigh, Bryan Rodgers, Cassie Curryer, and Louisa Jorm. “Psychological Distress and Comorbid Physical Conditions: Disease or Disability?” Depression and Anxiety 31, no. 6 (August 6, 2014): 524–32. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22162.
Chia, Fan, Wei-Yang Huang, Hsuan Huang, and Cheng-En Wu. “Promoting Healthy Behaviors in Older Adults to Optimize Health-Promoting Lifestyle: An Intervention Study.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 2 (January 16, 2023): 1628. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021628.
Dwyer-Lindgren, Laura, Johan P. Mackenbach, Frank J. van Lenthe, and Ali H. Mokdad. “Self-Reported General Health, Physical Distress, Mental Distress, and Activity Limitation by US County, 1995-2012.” Population Health Metrics 15, no. 1 (April 26, 2017): 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12963-017-0133-5.
Stellefson, Michael, Samantha R. Paige, Adam E. Barry, Min Qi Wang, and Avery Apperson. “Risk Factors Associated with Physical and Mental Distress in People Who Report a COPD Diagnosis: Latent Class Analysis of 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data.” International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 14 (April 10, 2019): 809–22. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S194018.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
