America's Fattest and Fittest Cities

[Overload]

Found this interesting as I was suprised to see who was the fittest. Living on pineapple must be good for you

Top 25 Fattest
2004 Ranking + Last year
1. Detroit 3
2. Houston 1
3. Dallas 9
4. San Antonio 13
5. Chicago 2
6. Fort Worth 16
7. Philadelphia 4
8. Arlington NR
9. Cleveland 6
10. Columbus 8
11. Atlanta 7
12. Mesa 19
13. Oklahoma City 23
14. Kansas City 22
15. Miami 24
16. Las Vegas 18
17. Indianapolis 12
18. Phoenix 14
19. Tulsa 25
20. Memphis 21
21. New York 15
22. New Orleans 11
23. Baltimore 20
24. El Paso 17
25. Washington 25

Top 25 Fittest
2004 Ranking + Last year
1. Honolulu 1
2. San Francisco 3
3. Virginia Beach 8
4. Denver 7
5. Colorado Springs 4
6. Seattle 2
7. Boston 12
8. Portland 6
9. Tucson 9
10. Sacramento 10
11. Omaha 14
12. Albuquerque 17
13. Jacksonville 18
14. San Diego 5
15. Fresno 24
16. Wichita 16
17. Oakland 15
18. Minneapolis 11
19. Austin 13
20. San Jose 19
21. Milwaukee 21*
22. Charlotte 10*
23. Long Beach 20
24. Nashville 23
25. Los Angeles 22


How We Did It

The 50 largest U.S. cities were selected using the most recent United States Census Bureau statistics available at the time of the survey, which was conducted from August 2003 through October 2003. Cities were assessed in 14 equally weighted categories, using data specific to each city, except as noted when data was available only for a metropolitan statistical area or for a state. (When no data was available, an average score was assigned.) The categories were selected as indicators, risk factors or relevant environmental determinants affecting fitness, obesity and health.

The cities were ranked first to last and assigned numerical grades based on a relative curve. The scores were then translated into letter grades, which, while a more familiar point of reference, eliminated some of the scoring nuances. Since the survey is based on a comparative scale, with cities ranked solely in relation to each other, some positions and grades may have shifted from last year without necessarily indicating significant statistical changes.

Gyms/Sporting Goods
Composite score, equally weighing (a) total number of clubs, gyms and fitness studios ranked per 100,000 population, from YellowPages.com; and (b) total number of sporting-goods retailers ranked per 100,000 population, from YellowPages.com.

Nutrition
Composite score, equally weighing (a) average frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption (percent that consumes five or more servings per day) in state-level data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; and (b) total number of health-food stores ranked per 100,000 population, from YellowPages.com.

Exercise/Sports
Total participation in 103 sports and fitness-related activities. Measured by participants per 100 residents for the top 30 metropolitan statistical areas and by state. State-level data used for Austin, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Tulsa and Wichita. Honolulu, not surveyed, was given an average score. Data from the Superstudy of Sports Participation Geographic Supplement, from American Sports Data Inc.

Overweight/Sedentary
Composite score according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, equally weighing (a) percentage of state population that is obese; (b) percentage of state population at risk for health problems related to being overweight; (c) percentage of state population at risk for health problems related to lack of exercise; and (d) percentage of state population not participating in physical activity.

Junk Food
Total number of fast-food outlets, pizza parlors, ice cream shops and doughnut stores ranked per 100,000 population, from YellowPages.com.

Alcohol
Composite score, equally weighing (a) total number of bars/taverns ranked per 100,000 population, from YellowPages.com; and (b) apparent alcohol consumption by state, from the surveillance report of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

TV
Metered Market HUT (Homes Using Television) Analysis, Primetime, June 1, 2002, through May 31, 2003, from Nielsen Media Research. Average scores assigned to Albuquerque, Austin, El Paso, Fresno, Honolulu, Jacksonville, Tulsa, Omaha and Wichita.

Air Quality
The air-quality index is based on annual reports from the Environmental Protection Agency. The number of ozone-alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of pollutants, including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. From Sterling's Best Places.

Climate
The climate index is based on National Weather Service data combining estimated annual days above 32 degrees and below 90 degrees, amounts of precipitation and sunshine, and the August heat/humidity index.

Geography
Accessible recreational forests, lakes, rivers, waterways, mountains, and ocean beaches, compiled from almanacs and additional sources.

Commute
Based on the Travel Time Index, which measures traffic delays due to congestion, according to the Urban Mobility Report from the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University. Average score for small cities assigned to Tulsa and Wichita.

Parks/Open Space
Composite score, equally weighing (a) total acreage per 10,000 population of federal and state recreation areas plus all listed water areas, from the Places Rated Almanac; (b) number of city parks per 10,000 population, according to a 2003 Men's Fitness custom survey; and (c) acres of city parks and recreational open space per 10,000 population, according to a 2003 Men's Fitness custom survey.

Recreation Facilities
Composite score based on totals per 10,000 population, from a 2003 Men's Fitness custom survey, equally weighing (a) number of public basketball courts; (b) number of public swimming pools; (c) number of public tennis courts; and (d) number of public golf courses.

Health Care
Based on city-by-city ranking of health resources and access as measured by Places Rated Almanac.

[phikappa]

Philly and NY are on the fat list. What does that mean for NJ? You must be making up for those "fat lands".

[Overload]

I was surprised not to see Jersey. Especially if you see the "local folk" in my area.

[F071557]

We have our share of lardasses.

[F071557]

Originally posted by Overload
I was surprised not to see Jersey. Especially if you see the "local folk" in my area.

Ocean County?

[MiloMan]

We're on the big-boned side here in the plains states of the midwest, but we're also fairly active, and breed some enormous offensive linemen. Of course, the food-stamp and AFDC gang is on the super-porky side, even here.

[Hibiscus09]

I sure see plenty of chubsy wubsies here!

[Overload]

Originally posted by F071557
Ocean County?

No, Sussex County. Cow country and sometimes you can't tell the difference between the cows and locals

[oldie]

Research studies are just that. They are only as accurate as the researcher's methods. Who can possibily evaluate all the variables and analyze them correctly! It's almost as accurate as comparing apples to oranges. It is good for the fitness mag that publishes and publicizes the findings, however accurate they may be, but it does little to educate the general public and our children about proper nutrition and exercise. Probably bodybuilding.com does a better job. I wouldn't put much weight in their findings. Don't worry if your city is listed. The important concern is whether we as individuals are doing anything about the problem and if we are influencing others for good around us.

[Overload]

Originally posted by oldie
Don't worry if your city is listed.

At least Jersey wasn't listed either way... nah, nah, nah

All surveys are flawed in some manner so you take them as such... flawed.

[phikappa]

Originally posted by MiloMan
We're on the big-boned side here in the plains states of the midwest, but we're also fairly active, and breed some enormous offensive linemen.

I call those guys CFWB's (Corn Fed White Boys!).

[Bob45]

We seem to be somewhere in between around here.

[egoatdoor]

Originally posted by oldie
Research studies are just that. They are only as accurate as the researcher's methods. Who can possibily evaluate all the variables and analyze them correctly! It's almost as accurate as comparing apples to oranges. It is good for the fitness mag that publishes and publicizes the findings, however accurate they may be, but it does little to educate the general public and our children about proper nutrition and exercise. Probably bodybuilding.com does a better job. I wouldn't put much weight in their findings. Don't worry if your city is listed. The important concern is whether we as individuals are doing anything about the problem and if we are influencing others for good around us.

Agree. I also do not see what air quality, climate, "geography" and "parks/open space" have to do with whether a place is "fit" or "fat". There is a hidden agenda here, as there are with most "surveys" published.

[turgon]

Originally posted by Overload

Top 25 Fattest
2004 Ranking + Last year

7. Philadelphia 4

Hey, we went down from last year. I lost a lot of weight in 2002; didn't know it would affect the rankings THAT much.

Yeah! THAT'S the ticket! It was me!

:-)

[Overload]

See, and they say one person can't make a difference in this world.

Well done...

[egoatdoor]

It must say something about Texas food that so many cities in that state are in the top( or should be say bottom??) ten fattest. For the fit towns, not many of us could afford to live in Honolulu and San Francisco.

[MiloMan]

Originally posted by egoatdoor
Agree. I also do not see what air quality, climate, "geography" and "parks/open space" have to do with whether a place is "fit" or "fat". There is a hidden agenda here, as there are with most "surveys" published.

That's damn right. The only surveys that are honest from the git-go are the ones that are originally intended for internal use only. The polls are sometimes published, but only if they return the "right" results.

The ones that are intended for publication are bent 8 ways from Sunday to get the answers/results that the outfit commissioning the survey/poll want to have in the end.

[egoatdoor]

Originally posted by MiloMan
That's damn right. The only surveys that are honest from the git-go are the ones that are originally intended for internal use only. The polls are sometimes published, but only if they return the "right" results.

The ones that are intended for publication are bent 8 ways from Sunday to get the answers/results that the outfit commissioning the survey/poll want to have in the end.

I think Milo Man read the same book I did on this subject: Tainted Truth by Cynthia Crossen. Came out nine years ago. Really spells it out.

For example, when people are called by phone to answer a poll or survey, the questions are slanted in such a way so that the "right answers" are often given.