The American College of Sports Medicine just released their list of the fittest cities in the country, and Arlington, Virginia, came in first!
Congrats, Arlington residents! A study of the fittest cities in the country found that Arlington ranks No. 1. This might not come as a surprise to long-time Arlington residents who have enjoyed awesome farmers markets, outdoor activities, and running trails for years and years! A study by The American College of Sports Medicine proves what many have known for a while. They ranked the 100 largest cities using criteria such as fitness level, nutrition, smoking, mental health, chronic diseases, access to parks and public transportation, and number of dog parks to figure out who ranks supreme. Check out the full list here. Arlington ranked the fittest city in the country with an overall score of 77.7. Minneapolis, MN, followed with a close second at 77.2 and Washington, D.C., ranked third with an overall score of 74.0. The next highest Virginia city is Virginia Beach, which came in at No. 30, followed by Norfolk at No. 44. On the lower end, the five least-fit cities are Toledo, OH; Detriot, MI; Louisville, KY; Indianapolis, IN; and Oklahoma City, OK.
It's great to see two DMV cities rank high on the list, especially as inactivity and obesity become larger problems in our country. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, more than one third of American adults are considered overweight. The American College of Sports Medicine also found that for all participants in the top 100 cities, only 22.2 percent meet aerobic and strength training activity guidelines, and only 18 percent consume three or more vegetables a day. Despite this, over half of participants were in excellent or very good health.
Not only did Arlington win the fittest city ranking overall, but it won in a few subcategories as well. Arlington has the lowest percentage of smokers at 5.9 percent, compared to the 15 percent average for all 100 cities. The city also has an impressive 63.9 percent residents living in excellent or very good health.
Keep up the good work, Arlington!
What do you think? Do you maintain a healthy lifestyle? Let us know how in the comments below!
