Which City Is America's Fittest?

1. 7 Most Effective Exercises Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Exercise and Fitness Quiz!
3. How to Build a Better Butt Slideshow Pictures

Nation's Capital Is Fittest City in U.S., According to American College of Sports Medicine

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

May 26, 2009 -- Washington, D.C., tops the American College of Sports Medicine's new list of America's fittest cities.

The list is based on personal factors -- including the percentage of residents who smoke, are obese, get regular physical activity, eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and have conditions such as diabetes and heart disease -- and on local resources, such as parks, farmers' markets, number of primary health care providers, and crime rates.

Data came from sources including the CDC, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the nonprofit Trust for the Public Land.

Here is how the cities ranked:

1. Washington, D.C.

2. Minneapolis-St. Paul

3. Denver

4. Boston

5. San Francisco

6. Seattle

7. Portland

8. San Diego

9. Austin, Texas

10. Virginia Beach, Va.

11. Hartford, Conn.

12. Sacramento, Calif.

13. San Jose, Calif.

14. Cincinnati

15. Atlanta

16. Pittsburgh

17. Milwaukee, Wis.

18. Buffalo, N.Y.

19. Baltimore

20. Raleigh, N.C.

21. Kansas City, Mo./Kan.

22. New York

23. Tampa, Fla.

24. Cleveland

25. Chicago

26. Nashville, Tenn.

27. Philadelphia

28. Jacksonville, Fla.

29. Columbus, Ohio

30. Los Angeles

31. Miami

32. Phoenix

33. St. Louis

34. Charlotte, N.C.

35. Dallas

36. Indianapolis

37. Memphis, Tenn.

38. Louisville, Ky.

39. San Antonio

40. Riverside, Calif.

41. Houston

42. Las Vegas

43. Birmingham, Ala.

44. Detroit

45. Oklahoma City, Okla.

Five cities -- Orlando, Fla.; Providence, R.I.; Richmond, Va.; Rochester, N.Y.; and Salt Lake City -- weren't rated because of a lack of community/environmental data.

SOURCES:
ACSM American Fitness Index: "Actively Moving America to Better Health."
News release, American College of Sports Medicine.
© 2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.