The American Fitness Index ranking released by the American College of Sports Medicine and the Anthem Foundation ranked the top 50 metropolitan areas in the United States for their fitness levels.
The scores on the right are composite scores to measure the health of each metropolitan statistical area. The top three areas were noted for having relatively low rates of smoking, obesity and diabetes, and that the populations enjoy a number of outdoor exercise options.
1. Washington D.C., both the metropolitan area and surrounding counties 79.6
2. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn., and Wisc., surrounding countie 75.6*
3. San Diego-Carlsbad, Calif. 75.6*
4. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, Calif. 72.6
5. Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, Calif. 71.4
6. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo., 71.1
7. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore., Wash. 69.6
8. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash. 68.5
9. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass., N.H. 68.1
10. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif., 65.9
11. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Conn., 64.8
12. Salt Lake City, Utah. 61.9
13. Raleigh, N.C. 60.1
14. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga. 57.5*
15. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Va., N.C. 57.5*
"The AFI is two things: a measure of how healthy a metro area is today, and a call-to-action for urban and suburban leaders to design infrastructures that promote active lifestyles and lead to positive health outcomes," said Walter R. Thompson, PhD, FACSM, chair of the AFI Advisory Board. "Our goal is to provide communities and residents with resources that help them assess, respond and achieve a better, healthier life."