ACSM’s Fittest (and Least Fit) Cities

Each year the American College of Sports Medicine releases its ACSM American Fitness Index™, which ranks the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the United States, based on certain health and fitness indicators. These indicators include preventive health behaviors, access to health care, chronic disease conditions and other factors.

Here are the highest and lowest ranked MSAs in 2013:

Highest-Ranking MSAs

1. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin

2.Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Virginia-Maryland-West Virginia

3. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon-Washington

4. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, California

5. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colorado

Lowest-Ranking MSAs

46. Memphis, Tennessee-Missouri-Arkansas

47. Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky-Indiana

48. San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas

49. Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Michigan

50. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

According to information from the report, the goal of the American Fitness Index is “to help communities identify opportunities to improve the health of their residents and expand community assets to better support active, healthy lifestyles.”

Download the full report here:www.americanfitnessindex.org/docs/reports/2013_afi_report_final.pdf.