The American Fitness Index program has released its 2015 report on the health and community fitness status of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S.
AFI is a program that was launched eight years ago by the American College of Sports Medicine and is supported the Anthem Foundation. The goal of the report is to serve as a scientific, objective assessment of each city's strengths and challenges when it comes to fitness, and effectively inform local decision-making that can enhance the quality of life for its population.
"The AFI is two things: a measure of how healthy a metro area is today, and a call-to-action for urban and suburban leaders to design infrastructures that promote active lifestyles and lead to positive health outcomes," stated Walter R. Thompson, PhD, chair of the AFI Advisory Board.
Measures considered during the ranking process include personal health measures, preventive health behaviors, levels of chronic disease conditions and access to city parks, famers' markets and recreational facilities.
Here are the 10 most fit metropolitan areas, as ranked by the AFI report:
1. Washington, D.C.
2. Minneapolis
3. San Diego
4. San Francisco
5. Sacramento, Calif.
6. Denver
7. Portland, Ore.
8. Seattle
9. Boston
10. San Jose, Calif.