Ali Heck

May 20, 2016

Top 10 Fittest Metro Areas in America in 2016

Which U.S. metropolitan areas are the fittest? The ninth annual American Fitness Index (AFI) Report released this month by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and funded by The Anthem Foundation reveals its picks for the fittest metro areas as well as the least fit.

“Cities that ranked near the top of the index have more strengths and resources that support healthy living and fewer challenges that hinder it,” the report’s executive summary reads. “The opposite is true for cities near the bottom of the index. All cities are commended for their areas of excellence and encouraged to focus future efforts on their improvement priority areas to achieve a healthy and active population.”

The three top metro areas showed increased walking by residents using public transportation, more parkland for exercise, and lower cardiovascular and diabetes issues.

No 10: San Diego

San Diego population (San Diego-Carlsbad, California MSA): 3.26 million.

2016 Score: 64.1

2015 Rank: 3

ACSM American Fitness Index Components

Percent any physical activity or exercise in last 30 days: 71.4%

Percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines: 33%

Percent meeting both CDC aerobic and strength activity guidelines: 24.5%

Percent obese: 23%

Percent in excellent or very good health: 56.6%

Areas of Excellence Highlights:

Higher percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines.

Higher percent meeting both CDC aerobic and strength activity guidelines.

More recreation centers per capita.

Improvement Priority Areas Highlights:

Higher percent when physical health was not good during the past 30 days.

Fewer golf courses, swimming pools and tennis courts per capita.

Lower percent using public transportation to work.

No. 9: Hartford, Connecticut

Hartford, Connecticut, population (Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford MSA): 1.21 million.

2016 Score: 65.3

2015 Rank: 11

ACSM American Fitness Index Components

Percent any physical activity or exercise in last 30 days: 79%

Percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines: 26.6%

Percent meeting both CDC aerobic and strength activity guidelines: 20.4%

Percent obese: 26.9%

Percent in excellent or very good health: 56.5%

Areas of Excellence Highlights:

Lower death rate for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

More ball diamonds, golf courses, park units, recreation centers, swimming pools and tennis courts per capita.

Higher level of state requirement for physical education classes.

Improvement Priority Areas Highlights:

Higher percent obese.

Higher percent with angina or coronary heart disease.

Higher percent with diabetes.

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No. 8: Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City population (Salt Lake City MSA): 1.15 million.

2016 Score: 65.5

2015 Rank: 12

ACSM American Fitness Index Components

Percent any physical activity or exercise in last 30 days: 82.1%

Percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines: 28.3%

Percent meeting both CDC aerobic and strength activity guidelines: 19.9%

Percent obese: 26.6%

Percent in excellent or very good health: 56.6%

Areas of Excellence Highlights:

Lower percent currently smoking.

Lower death rate for cardiovascular disease.

More park ball diamonds, park playgrounds, golf courses, park units and tennis courts per capita.

Improvement Priority Areas Highlights:

Higher percent obese.

Higher death rate for diabetes.

Fewer recreation centers, swimming pools and park-related expenditures per capita.

No. 7: Boston

Boston population (Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts-New Hampshire MSA): 4.73 million.

2016 Score: 67

2015 Rank: 9

ACSM American Fitness Index Components

Percent any physical activity or exercise in last 30 days: 81%

Percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines: 27.2%

Percent meeting both CDC aerobic and strength activity guidelines: 21.7%

Percent obese: 23.5%

Percent in excellent or very good health: 59.9%

Areas of Excellence Highlights:

Lower death rate for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Higher park-related expenditures per capita.

More ball diamonds per capita.

Improvement Priority Areas Highlights:

Higher percent with angina or coronary heart disease.

Higher percent with diabetes.

Fewer golf courses, recreation centers and swimming pools per capita.

No. 6: Seattle

Seattle population (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington MSA): 3.67 million.

2016 Score: 69

2015 Rank: 8

ACSM American Fitness Index Components

Percent any physical activity or exercise in last 30 days: 83%

Percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines: 31.4%

Percent meeting both CDC aerobic and strength activity guidelines: 20.2%

Percent obese: 25.6%

Percent in excellent or very good health: 54.6%

Areas of Excellence Highlights:

Higher percent of any physical activity or exercise in last 30 days.

More park units and tennis courts per capita.

Higher level of state requirement for physical education classes.

Improvement Priority Areas Highlights:

Higher percent of days when physical health was not good during the past 30 days.

Higher percent with diabetes and death rate for diabetes.

Fewer swimming pools per capita.

No. 5: San Francisco

San Francisco population (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California MSA): 4.6 million.

2016 Score: 69.3

2015 rank: 4

ACSM American Fitness Index Components

Percent any physical activity or exercise in last 30 days: 70.8%

Percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines: 30.6%

Percent meeting both CDC aerobic and strength activity guidelines: 23.1%

Percent obese: 23.1%

Percent in excellent or very good health: 55.1%

Areas of Excellence Highlights:

Higher percent consuming three-plus vegetables per day.

Lower death rate for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Higher percent bicycling or walking to work.

Improvement Priority Areas Highlights:

Higher percent with asthma and diabetes.

Fewer recreation centers and swimming pools per capita.

Fewer park units per capita.

No. 4: Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon poplation (Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon-Washington MSA): 2.34 million.

2016 Score: 69.6

2015 Rank: 7

ACSM American Fitness Index Components

Percent any physical activity or exercise in last 30 days: 84.8%

Percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines: 32.6%

Percent meeting both CDC aerobic and strength activity guidelines: 22%

Percent obese: 25.4%

Percent in excellent or very good health: 55.3%

Areas of Excellence Highlights:

Higher percent of any physical activity or exercise in the last 30 days.

Higher percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines.

Lower death rate for cardiovascular disease.

Improvement Priority Areas Highlights:

Higher percent of days when physical health was not good during past 30 days.

Higher percent with diabetes and higher death rate for diabetes.

Fewer recreation centers and swimming pools per capita.

No. 3: Denver

Denver population (Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado MSA): 2.75 million.

2016 Score: 72.6

2015 Rank: 6

ACSM American Fitness Index Components

Percent any physical activity or exercise in last 30 days: 84.1%

Percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines: 29.2%

Percent meeting both CDC aerobic and strength activity guidelines: 22.3%

Percent obese: 20.8%

Percent in excellent or very good health: 57.4%

Areas of Excellence Highlights:

Higher percent of any physical activity or exercise in last 30 days.

Lower percent obese.

More tennis courts, swimming pools, park units, park-related expenditures and golf courses per capita.

Improvement Priority Areas Highlights:

Higher percent with asthma.

Lower percent of city land area as parkland.

Fewer acres of parkland per capita.

Minneapolis population (Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin MSA): 3.49 million.

2016 Score: 76.7

2015 Rank: 2

ACSM American Fitness Index Components

Percent any physical activity or exercise in last 30 days: 81.7%

Percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines: 27.5%

Percent meeting both CDC aerobic and strength activity guidelines: 20.9%

Percent obese: 25.5%

Percent in excellent or very good health: 58.8%

Areas of Excellence Highlights:

Lower death rate for cardiovascular disease.

More recreation centers, tennis courts and park-related expenditures per capita.

Higher level of state requirement for physical education classes.

Improvement Priority Areas Highlights:

Lower percent consuming three-plus vegetables per day.

Fewer swimming pools per capita.

Higher percent with diabetes.

No. 1: Washington, DC

Washington, DC population (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Viriginia-Maryland-West Virginia MSA): 6.03 million.

2016 Total Score: 77.9

2015 Rank: 1

ACSM American Fitness Index Components

Percent any physical activity or exercise in last 30 days: 80.1%

Percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines: 24.3%

Percent meeting both CDC aerobic and strength activity guidelines: 21.3%

Percent obese: 25.3%

Percent in excellent or very good health: 59.5%

Areas of Excellence Highlights:

Higher percent bicycling or walking to work.

More recreation centers, swimming pools and tennis courts per capita.

Lower percent currently smoking.

Lower death rate for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Improvement Priority Areas Highlights:

Lower percent meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines.

Higher percent with diabetes.

Fewer acres of parkland and fewer golf courses per capita.

Eric Stromgren, Content Producer | Club Industry

Click here to read the full report: http://americanfitnessindex.org/report/

The Arena District Athletic Club is more than just a gym, it’s a premier fitness facility located in the heart of the Arena District in downtown Columbus. We provide convenience and quality, featuring top-of-the-line equipment, top-notch personal trainers, spa-like locker rooms and a wide variety of free group fitness classes daily including Cardio, Spinning, Barre Fusion, Yoga, Boot Camp and more. We offer free 2-hour parking and convenient contract-free memberships, to fit your healthy lifestyle needs. Don’t just join, belong