Each year, the American Fitness Index, a nifty PR effort conceived by Wellpoint and glomming conveniently on to the authority of the American College of Sports Medicine, gets a little more fit, or at least more robust. This year's website offers neatly packaged health profiles (strengths/advantages and opportunities/challenges) of all 45 cities rated. Rated how, exactly? Too many ways to make much sense, in this humble reader's opinion. The index measures each city's performance on 30 indicators, including
acres of parkland, death rate from cardiovascular disease, the number
of primary care physicians per capita and the percent of residents who
bicycle or walk to work. Readers who are short on patience can skip the flash-encumbered map and go straight to the envelope please, where they will find a list of winners.
Whatev. The top five fittest cities are: Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Denver, Boston, and San Francisco.
Losers are Salt Lake City, Rochester, Richmond, Providence and Orlando.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Yeah, and your chances of “high velocitylead poisoning” is highest in D.C. Some claim for health!
The reason for this rating is that the place is full of well-paid government employees who have plenty of spare time AND tax-payer subsidized fitness opportunities(the government covers a portion of their fitness club fees).