Examine Statistics on Physical Well-Being in Tucson, Arizona MSA
How are we doing?
Percent of the Population Who Reported Good or Excellent Health (2023)
In 2023, 80.8% of residents in the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) reported good or excellent health. That ranked Tucson eighth among peer western metropolitan areas and slightly above the national rate of 80.1%. Denver ranked first, with 85.8% of residents reporting good or excellent health, while El Paso ranked last at 73.0%, placing it off the gauge. Tucson’s share of residents reporting good or excellent health was unchanged from the previous year and remained below the levels reported in 2020 and 2021.
Why is it important?
Physical health is an important factor in overall well-being and quality of life. Good physical health can lead to a longer life expectancy. Many chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, can affect both individual well-being and health costs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Regular physical activity plays an important role in the prevention of many health-related diseases, including heart disease. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines regular physical activity as participation in moderate and vigorous physical activities as well as muscle-strengthening activities. Tracking physical health indicators helps communities identify emerging trends, better understand local needs, and evaluate progress over time.
How do we compare?
Residents living in the Tucson MSA reported an average of 4.4 poor physical health days per month. Tucson was tied with Albuquerque and Portland for 8th among peer western metropolitan areas. Those living in Austin reported the least number of poor physical health days in 2023 at 3.6 per month, while those living in Las Vegas reported the most at 4.8.
In 2023, 13.0% of adults in the Tucson MSA reported frequent physical distress. Frequent physical distress occurs when an individual reports poor physical health on 14 or more days during a 30-day period. Tucson ranked eighth among peer western MSAs. Austin reported the lowest rate at 10.9%, while El Paso reported the highest at 15.0%.
Arizona's reported prevalence of heart attacks and coronary heart disease was similar to the national rate in 2023. The most recent BRFSS data available for the Tucson MSA are from 2012, when 3.3% of adults reported having experienced a heart attack and 3.9% reported coronary heart disease.
In 2023, Tucson had an adult obesity prevalence of 32.2%, ranking fourth highest among the 12 peer MSAs. Denver residents posted the lowest rate at 25.2%, followed by San Diego at 25.4%. Two Texas MSAs had the highest rates of obesity when compared to other peer communities in the West, with San Antonio reporting the highest at 34.5%, followed closely by El Paso at 34.4%.
The percentage of the population with a diagnosed prevalence of diabetes in 2023 ranged from 7.8% in Denver to 15.3% in El Paso. Tucson’s rate of 9.5% ranked seventh highest among peer western MSAs, just below Phoenix at 9.7% and Austin at 9.8%.
What are the key trends?
The share of Tucson residents reporting good or excellent health was generally near 84% prior to the pandemic. In 2020, Tucson reported its highest rate in more than a decade at 85.3%. Since 2020, the share of residents reporting good or excellent health has declined across all geographies tracked on the MAP Dashboard. Between 2020 and 2023, that share declined 4.5 percentage points in Tucson, 6.7 percentage points in Arizona, and 7.9 percentage points nationally. Despite the decline, Tucson continued to report a higher share of the population with good or excellent health at 80.8% in 2023, compared to 78.8% statewide and 80.1% nationally.
How is it measured?
Most of the data reported in the Physical Well-Being indicator originates from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS is a health-related telephone survey that collects state data about U.S. residents regarding their health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventative services. The BRFSS data presented is collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the County Health Rankings.
