INDIANAPOLIS, May 27 (UPI) -- For the third time in a row, the Washington metropolitan area was placed atop the American Fitness Index by the American College of Sports Medicine.
A report by the American College of Sports Medicine evaluates the most populous 50 U.S. metropolitan areas to determine the healthiest and fittest areas. Data includes policies that support physical activity, levels of chronic disease, healthcare access and community resources.
"The ACSM American Fitness Index not only measures the state of health and fitness in our nation's largest communities, but evaluates the infrastructure, community assets, policies and opportunities which encourage residents to live a healthy and fit lifestyle," Walt Thompson, AFI advisory board chairman, says in a statement.
Washington scored 73.5 out of 100 possible points because if its low smoking rate, a higher-than-average percentage eating five fruits and vegetables daily, lower-than-average rates of obesity, asthma, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and use of public transportation that requires commuters to walk daily.
Also in the Top 5 are Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Seattle and Portland, Ore. The three largest cities finished in the middle -- New York ranks 21st, Chicago ranks 33rd and Los Angeles ranks 38th.
Cities at the bottom of the American Fitness Index are: Las Vegas; Louisville, Ky.; Detroit; Memphis; Birmingham, Ala.; and Oklahoma City.
