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San Francisco, Seattle Top US Fittest Cities List

Los Angeles trails in measures of healthy living, environment

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted May 30, 2008 12:50 PM CDT

(Newser) – San Francisco has narrowly edged out Seattle for the distinction of being America's fittest big city, says a new study released by the American College of Sports Medicine. Judging 16 large metropolitan areas on factors ranging from exercise frequency and fruit intake to the availability of parks and public transportation, the study put Los Angeles near the bottom, reports USA Today.

"Cities can take this information and use it to improve the quality of life for their residents," says a fitness professor. Adults, he says, should be doing aerobic activity five days a week, and strength training twice weekly.

The commuting culture and lack of pubic spaces in Los Angeles contributed to its ranking near the bottom of a new list looking at fitness levels in US big cities.
The commuting culture and lack of pubic spaces in Los Angeles contributed to its ranking near the bottom of a new list looking at fitness levels in US big cities.   (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Perhaps Detroit can be excused for ranking as the least fit big American city: its residents have had a lot of playoff basketball and hockey to watch in past weeks.
Perhaps Detroit can be excused for ranking as the least fit big American city: its residents have had a lot of playoff basketball and hockey to watch in past weeks.   (AP Photo/Gary Malerba)
Joan Benoit Samuelson, left, Olympic gold medal winner in the 1984 Women's Marathon, is joined by Lauren Fleshman after the Nike Women's Marathon, Sunday Oct. 21, 2007, in San Francisco.
Joan Benoit Samuelson, left, Olympic gold medal winner in the 1984 Women's Marathon, is joined by Lauren Fleshman after the Nike Women's Marathon, Sunday Oct. 21, 2007, in San Francisco.   (AP Photo/Nike)
San Francisco's green spaces and hiking trails, like this one in the Muir Woods, helped boost it to the top of the list of America's fittest big cities.
San Francisco's green spaces and hiking trails, like this one in the Muir Woods, helped boost it to the top of the list of America's fittest big cities.   (AP Photo)
A Seattle pedestrian walks his dog in a brief rain shower at Golden Gardens Park in Seattle. Spaces for public fitness were one factor in deeming Seattle the second fittest big city in the US.
A Seattle pedestrian walks his dog in a brief rain shower at Golden Gardens Park in Seattle. Spaces for public fitness were one factor in deeming Seattle the second fittest big city in the US.   (AP Photo)
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San Francisco • Boston • Detroit • Los Angeles • public health • Seattle • exercise • healthy eating • fitness • commuting • parks • American College of Sports Medicine • healthy living

 
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