A new American Fitness Index report, published by the American College of Sports Medicine, has revealed survey results from America’s largest metropolitan areas.
Ranking 50 communities by fitness levels, obesity rate and 30 other factors came up with a few surprises.
1. Washington, D.C.
• Overall Score: 73.5
• Obesity Rate: 22.6%
• Exercise Rate: 80.1 %
Given the sedentary rate of bureaucrats, you wouldn’t think of this as the #1 city, but this East Coast metropolis likes its veggies and farmers markets, has a low percentage of population with diabetes or heart rate, and has a high ratio of parks to residents.
2. Boston, Massachusetts
• Overall Score: 72.6
• Obesity Rate: 19.9%
• Exercise Rate: 78.6%
One of the few states that mandates health insurance, residents enjoy a high rate of health care providers, parks and recreation offerings, and keep smoking to a minimum.
3. Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Overall Score: 71.7
• Obesity Rate: 29.5%
• Exercise Rate: 84.3%
The higher obesity rate is offset by a physically active community, where people cycle to work and love to play golf and tennis.
4. Seattle, Washington
• Overall Score: 70.5
• Obesity Rate: 22.8%
• Exercise Rate: 81.9%
This is an area with abundant parkland and outdoor activities, from boating on one of the lakes or bays, to cycling and jogging.
5. Portland, Oregon
• Overall Score: 70.4
• Obesity Rate: 23.9%
• Exercise Rate: 82.3%
Public transit is big in this Northwest area and is used in conjunction with walking and cycling. There is also a lower percentage of smokers and people affected with diabetes.
6. Denver, Colorado
• Overall Score: 69.9
• Obesity Rate: 19.3 %
• Exercise Rate: 83%
A physically active town with more than its share of swimming pools, golf courses, tennis courts and baseball diamonds.
7. Sacramento, California
• Overall Score: 65.8
• Obesity Rate: 21.4%
• Exercise Rate: 82.3%
Sitting in the heart of California’s farmland, farmers markets and farm stands are plentiful meaning that residents get their fill of fruits and vegetables. Add to that the high number who cycle or walk to work and the abundance of parks, playgrounds and recreational amenities.
8. San Francisco, California
• Overall Score: 64.7
• Obesity Rate: 18.4%
• Exercise Rate: 81.5%
A slightly lower obesity rate than its northern cousin, but residents don’t quite get as much exercise. The factors affecting these scores is pretty identical to those of Sacramento.
9. Hartford Connecticut
• Overall Score: 64.4
• Obesity Rate: 21.1%
• Exercise Rate: 77.2%
Higher incomes and lower poverty rate contribute to these scores, along with recreational amenities and higher numbers of primary health care providers.
10. Austin, Texas
• Overall Score: 63.9
• Obesity Rate: 22.5%
• Exercise Rate: 78.4%
The lone Southern community to be ranked in the top 10, employment and diet have a lot to do with its success in this ranking, as well as keeping asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular disease lower.
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