Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Memphis ranks low on fittest cities list
Memphis Business Journal

Memphis has ranked 37th on a list of America’s 50 fittest cities by the American College of Sports Medicine.

The American Fitness Index is a snapshot look at the state of health and fitness in America’s 50 most populous metros. The study was released during the annual ACSM convention in Seattle last week. The ranking is a composite of preventive health behaviors, levels of chronic disease conditions, health care access, community resources and public policies that support physical activity.

Memphis scored an aggregated 38.5 in these categories. Washington, D.C., the top-ranking city, scored a 74.4. Others in the top five were Minneapolis-St. Paul, Denver, Boston and San Francisco.

Memphis ranked 41st on personal health indicators related to health behaviors, chronic health problems and health care. The city ranked 34th on community/environmental indicators related to the environment, recreational facilities, park-related expenditures, physical education requirements and primary health care providers.

Nashville ranked 26 overall. No cities in Arkansas or Mississippi made the list.