America’s Fittest Cities
By All American Fitness
Via PRISM Fitness and the American Fitness Index, we’ve discovered the fittest cities of 2017. Look no further than Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN!
In the past, Washington D.C. has taken the top spot in the 10th annual American Fitness Index® (AFI). The ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) launched the American Fitness Index® Program in 2008 with support from the Anthem Foundation. The program tracks individual and community health data for the 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. The group analyzes and shares the data with each community so leaders know where they stand. Leaders can use the data, as well as numerous resources and tools, to make decisions that will positively impact the health of the community.
Here in San Jose, we’re one of the leading cities in the nation at #5.
The top metro areas are:
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
Washington D.C.
San Francisco-Oakland, CA
Seattle-Tacoma, WA
San Jose, CA
Boston, MA
Denver, CO
These seven metro areas in the 2017 AFI are 4-13% ahead of the rest.
What makes these metro areas uniquely fit?
Lower: Smoking rates and cardiovascular related deaths
Higher: Physical activity, consumption of fruits and veggies, spending per capita on parks
On a national level, AFI® notes some positive shifts:
16.0% increase in people who met the recommendations for aerobic and strength in the last 30 days
10.5% drop in diagnosed angina or coronary heart disease
3.9% increase in walkability scores
3.9% increase in those who live within a 10-minute walk to a park
3.7% increase in the total park expenditures per capita
4.0% increase in the number of recreation centers per 20,000 residents
Want some actionable ideas about how to promote healthy lifestyles in your community? Click here for the AFI® Community Action Guide!
Want to help make San Jose the #1 fittest city next year?
Stop by our store at 1223 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126, or give us a call at 408-293-9966.