{"id":2008473,"date":"2026-06-24T15:31:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T12:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2008473"},"modified":"2026-06-24T15:31:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T12:31:15","slug":"the-vast-majority-of-americans-spend-their-time-indoors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2008473","title":{"rendered":"The Vast Majority of Americans Spend Their Time Indoors"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Americans spend an average of 22 hours indoors a day. | Image: Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Summer is in full swing, and many Americans are enjoying the great outdoors, or are they?<\/strong> Dr. John La Puma<\/a>, a board-certified physician, professionally trained chef, and regenerative organic farmer, says they are not, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Indoor Air Quality Exposure and Characterization Research report<\/a> from January 2026 says that Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, which is unhealthy. Americans spend 22 hours in enclosed environments, which leaves only two hours a day to do outdoor activities and get that much-needed natural sunlight. La Puma says that research shows a minimum of 120 minutes, but optimally 300 minutes of intentional outdoor engagement are needed per week to produce measurable health benefits.<\/p>\n

Americans spend 86% of their day in buildings and 7% in vehicles, leaving just 7% of the time actually outside, where they should be spending more time.<\/strong> It may be surprising to a culture that is obsessed with health, diet, and fitness. However, when you crunch the numbers, most Americans eat, work, exercise, and then go to bed every night inside their residences. That does not leave adequate time for them to get the much-needed sunlight on their faces and fresh air, which is required daily.<\/p>\n