Arlington Ranked Healthiest City In the Nation, D.C. Is Sixth

ARLINGTON, VA – A new report released today by the American College of Sports Medicine and the Anthem Foundation claims Arlington is the nation’s fittest city. The annual analysis evaluates the exercise habits and overall health of the residents in America’s largest urban areas. The analysis examines 33 indicators addressing such health behaviors as exercise, fruit and vegetable consumption and recreational facilities available within the community.

Arlington ranked within the top 10 for 22 of the measurable factors and placed first in six of those categories, including how many residents exercised within the past month and the state of health for the general population. The city also reported the lowest number of pedestrian deaths, the fewest residents who smoke, and those who have poor physical health, the report revealed.

Washington, D.C., ended up placing sixth overall out of 100 cities surveyed. The District placed first out of all cities for the percentage of residents who walk or bike to work, the availability of farmers markets to its residents and the number of residents who consume three or more vegetables per day.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, the results of the survey help guide cities in the decision-making process, such as implementing Complete Streets policies to reduce pedestrian fatalities or creating designating bike lanes.