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Arlington, Virginia is America’s fittest city for a fourth consecutive year, with the Washington DC suburb topping the 2021 list released by the American College of Sports Medicine and the Anthem Foundation.
Minneapolis, Seattle, Denver and Madison, Wisconsin, rounded out the five fittest cities in the annual report released Tuesday.
Minneapolis and Seattle traded places from the previous year, while Denver moved up four places from its 2020 rankings. Oklahoma City retained its status as the least fit city on the 100 list.
the index, now in its 14th year, consists of 34 fitness indicators, such as the percentage of people who smoke, those who exercised in the past month, and residents who have diabetes. The criteria also include city infrastructure such as parks and recreation centers.
The 2021 index added food insecurity and sleep to its list of indicators.
Arlington took first place placing first in eight categories and in the top 10 for 18 others. Residents reported more physical activity than any other city, with 85.7% of respondents reporting exercising in the past month.
Stella Volpe, co-author of the report, said Arlington offers the kind of amenities that promote a healthy lifestyle.
“They have great trails and parks that are accessible to people,” she said.
Volpe said Arlington also has a healthy culture, noting that just because a city incorporates bike lanes or nature trails doesn’t necessarily mean people will use them.
Still, she said such infrastructure encourages people to get out and exercise, adding that these expenses don’t have to come at a cost to local governments.
“Parks don’t have to be luxurious,” Volpe said.
She said residents of cities with a low ranking on the index can engage with policymakers to help people be more active and practice good nutrition.
“Part of it is really policy driven,” Volpe said.
The 2021 report also described how the COVID-19 pandemic raised many questions about what people take for granted about health in their communities. The adverse effects of the coronavirus beyond the disease itself have diminished overall health.
To February 2021 survey by the American Psychological Association found that 61 percent of adults reported unwanted changes in their weight, while 23 percent reported increasing their alcohol consumption.
Volpe said the pandemic has affected people in ways that aren’t just physical.
“The effects of isolation have certainly affected the mental health of many people,” she said.
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