TUESDAY, May 24 (HealthDay News) ? Exercising more and smoking
less are two of the main reasons why residents of Minneapolis-St. Paul
find their city is now the top-ranked in the United States for healthy
living.
Every year, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) ranks the 50
healthiest and fittest metropolitan areas in the United States, using the
American Fitness Index (AFI). Although kicking the habit was a big part of
why the Twin Cities unseated Washington D.C. from the No. 1 spot in 2011,
moderate-to-low rates of chronic health problems such as obesity, asthma,
heart disease and diabetes also factored into the city?s high score (77.2
out of 100 possible points).
Moreover, Minneapolis-St. Paul?s percentage of park land is above
average, as is its share of recreational facilities. More farmers markets
also popped up in the city this past year. These trends tend to indicate
residents there are moving towards healthier lifestyles and eating habits,
the ACSM noted.
Trailing behind Minneapolis-St. Paul to round out the AFI?s top five
slots are the following cities:
- Washington D.C., with a score of 76.8
- Boston, with a score of 69.1
- Portland, Ore., with a score of 67.7
- Denver, with a score of 67.6
At the opposite end of the index, Memphis, Tenn., Louisville, Ken. and
Oklahoma City ranked lowest. The cities received scores of 32.9, 29 and
24.6, respectively.
Still, the report noted that whether they landed at the top of the list
or at the bottom, each city had its strengths and weaknesses when it comes
to health and fitness.
?The scores and rankings from the report indicate which metro areas are
more fit, and which ones are less fit,? Walter Thompson, chair of the AFI
advisory board, said in an ACSM news release. ?Although Minneapolis
ranked first, there is room for improvement. At the same time, even the
lowest-ranked areas have healthy residents and community resources
supporting health and fitness.?
Thompson added the report should serve as either a needed wake-up call
or a source of positive re-enforcement for city leaders.
?A regular, scientific evaluation of the infrastructure, community
assets, policies and opportunities which encourage healthy and fit
lifestyles is imperative for cities wishing to provide a high quality of
life for residents,? Thompson said. ?Community health leaders and
advocates in each metro area can use the AFI data report to easily
identify their strengths and areas of opportunity.?
?There are no quick fixes when it comes to improving the health of an
entire metro area,? Dr. Wesley Wong, a member of the AFI advisory board,
said in the news release.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a wide array
of tips on healthy living.
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20110524/hl_hsn/twincitiestaketoprankingforhealthyliving
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