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American College of Sports Medicine<\/p>\nAmerican College of Sports Medicine<\/p>\n
INDIANAPOLIS, IN<\/strong> – Arlington Virginia has been named \u201cAmerica\u2019s Fittest City\u201d in the annual American Fitness Index<\/em> rankings, published by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc.<\/p>\n The science-based ACSM\/Anthem FitneAncss Index evaluated America\u2019s 100 largest cities using 33 health behaviors, chronic diseases and community infrastructure indicators. Seattle, Wash.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Madison, Wis.; San Francisco, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; Irvine, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; Boise, Idaho; and Boston, Mass., round out the top 10 fittest cities. Boston makes its first appearance in the Top 10 this year. You can access the full rankings and scores, summary report, city comparison tool and other insights on the American Fitness Index website at www.americanfitnessindex.org.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are pleased to reinforce our commitment to our local communities and whole person health and wellness with this year\u2019s Fitness Index report. These annual rankings offer cities meaningful guidance on health habits within their communities and reveal how well those communities encourage healthy lifestyles among their residents,\u201d said Gail K. Boudreaux, President and CEO of Anthem, Inc. \u201cWe\u2019re pleased to provide municipalities with the data-rich information and resources they need to address social determinants of health and to motivate action.\u201d<\/p>\n The evolving Fitness Index, now in its 13th year, allows leaders to focus on policy, systems and environmental change strategies that are based on evidence and create sustainability for their communities.<\/p>\n Arlington\u2019s balance of healthy behaviors and community infrastructure earned it the #1 overall rank. Arlington ranked in the top 10 cities for 19 of the 33 indicators in the ACSM\/Anthem Fitness Index. Two indicators ranked #1, including lowest rate of adults with obesity and highest rate of residents meeting aerobic and strength activity guidelines. Arlington has earned the fittest city title three consecutive years. You can compare your city to Arlington or others ranked in the Fitness Index by accessing the online City Comparison Tool.<\/p>\n The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the critical role cities play in ensuring their residents have opportunities and infrastructure to lead physically active, healthy lifestyles. \u201cWe know from research that physical activity can build a healthier immune system and overall wellness, which help minimize harmful effects of illness and disease,\u201d said Barbara Ainsworth, Ph.D., M.P.H., FACSM, chair of the American Fitness Index Advisory Board. \u201cThis pandemic shows the need to have local parks, trails and connected sidewalks in all neighborhoods that allow people to exercise safely. City leaders and planners need to act boldly and decisively to enact policies and funding to promote physical activity, better health and stronger communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Ainsworth also notes that societal health challenges existed long before the pandemic, and the Fitness Index has provided the data needed to address them for more than a decade. \u201cIt should be of national concern that only one in four Americans meets national physical activity guidelines and more than 30 million have diagnosed heart disease,\u201d she adds. \u201cSedentary lifestyles across the United States cost more than $117 billion annually in sick care services, adversely impacting both our nation\u2019s health and economic well-being. This challenge has local solutions, and the Fitness Index is a prescription for communities to bring about positive change.\u201d<\/p>\n Additional findings from the 2020 Fitness Index rankings include:<\/p>\n\n