The District of Columbia has been named the fittest city in the country for the third year in a row, according to new rankings. It was followed closely by Minneapolis-St. Paul and Denver.
What sets the fittest cities in America apart?
The ninth annual American Fitness Index found the top three metro areas are doing a lot of things correctly.
- Residents who use public transportation are walking more.
- There is more parkland for exercise.
- Fewer people have cardiovascular and diabetes issues.
As for D.C., the city’s lower rate of smoking helped push it over the top.
Read more: This one activity can make you gain weight more than anything
The Top 10
- 1. Washington, DC
- 2. Minneapolis, MN
- 3. Denver, CO
- 4. Portland, OR
- 5. San Francisco, CA
- 6. Seattle, WA
- 7. Boston, MA
- 8. Salt Lake City, UT
- 9. Hartford, CT
- 10. San Diego, CA
Meanwhile, some Midwestern metro areas have some work to do. Indianapolis, Oklahoma City and Louisville came in last of the 50 metro areas in the report.
The Bottom 10
- 41. Las Vegas, NV
- 42. Detroit, MI
- 43. Orlando, FL
- 44. Birmingham, AL
- 45. San Antonio, TX
- 46. Nashville, TN
- 47. Memphis, TN
- 48. Louisville, KY
- 49. Oklahoma City, OK
- 50. Indianapolis, IN
Read more: 8 sneaky ways to save on a gym membership
What you can do right now
Fitness experts say promoting a healthy lifestyle begins with each person. And there are steps you can take right now to get in better shape. In addition to practicing good nutrition, get at least 30 minutes of exercise and do 10 minutes of stretching and light muscle training five days a week. And if you don’t already have a bathroom scale, pick one up to track your progress.
Read the full rankings from the American Fitness Index.
