LOGAN and Beaudesert have been found to be Queensland's least active regions, according to new Heart Foundation data, with less than a quarter of residents getting the minimum amount of exercise for good health.
In Australia, it is second only to Sydney's southwest, a figure which shocked sport enthusiast and Logan councillor Scott Bannan.
"Being a rural area and a very sporting area, it's a shock," he said.
"We've got so much sport - football, soccer, athletics, equestrian.
"There's plenty of gyms in the area.
"Maybe we need to get out and start using them a bit more."
According to the Heart Foundation, more than three quarters of residents in Logan and Beaudesert are not getting the recommended minimum of 30 minutes of mild exercise daily.
Almost two in five residents are obese, the highest rate of any Queensland region.
Logan and Beaudesert also had the second highest rate of deaths from coronary heart disease in Queensland.
Joe Bland, the manager of Fitness Matters Jimboomba, said the heart foundation figures had come as a shock.
"I thought that people would be more active given the fact that there is a lot of acreage living and there is always a lot of physical work that is required for the upkeep," he said.
It comes as the Sunshine State's regional areas are found to be the nation's worst for heart health, with low exercise rates and high blood pressure more common than in metro spots.
Data from the Heart Foundation shows a city-country divide persists across rates of heart disease risk factors, deaths and hospitalisations.
Levels of obesity, high blood pressure, inactivity and smoking are worse across the board for regional Queenslanders compared to their big city cousins.
Mr Bland said it was sometimes more difficult to get exercise in regional areas.
"In the regional areas it is difficult to just get out and walk around the block as such," he said.
"I know personally living in an acreage area, we have no footpaths, walking tracks (or) bikeways and if people want this it may be too hard to do."
He said people needed to plan to incorporate health and fitness into their lives.
"It seems to be a time factor and as people seem to be working longer days ... I think that the motivation is also not there," he said.
"People ... really need to even plan and diarise health and fitness into their lives. Setting a personal goal is a great way to give you reason to work out."
Cr Bannan said COVID-19 had a negative impact on many people's exercise routines, but it took only small lifestyle changes to get on the right track.
"The best thing for a lot of people is to get out and do a bit of exercise," he said.
"Just start off small - do one thing different to start it off. It just takes time."
Heart Foundation Queensland chief executive Stephen Vines said the results highlighted a great divide in heart health.
"It's ... concerning to see Queensland regions have some of the worst rates of high blood pressure - a condition that can be silent yet puts you at greater risk of a heart attack or stroke."
Regional Queensland contains seven of the country's 10 least active regions, and half of Australia's top 10 high blood pressure hotspots.