Posted by: Richie Bernardo

We all aspire to become the best and fittest versions of ourselves. To achieve that goal, we must maintain an active lifestyle. But that’s easier said than done, partly because where we live may be failing to promote a healthy way of life. Some cities, for instance, lack sidewalks or neighborhood parks while others encourage few fitness centers to open for business.

It’s no wonder “lose weight and exercise more” consistently ranks as both the No. 1 most popular and most commonly broken New Year’s resolution in America.

With New Year self-improvement in mind, WalletHub compared the 100 biggest U.S. cities based on 34 key indicators of an active lifestyle. Our data set ranges from average monthly fitness-club fee to bike score to share of physically inactive adults. Read on for the complete ranking, additional insight from our panel of experts and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/8817/geochart-sport.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2lKvWdB;  

Best & Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle

Overall Rank	City	WalletHub’s Active Lifestyle Score	‘Budget & Participation’ Rank	‘Sports & Outdoor’ Rank
1	Portland, OR	59.35	2	4
2	Chicago, IL	58.98	63	1
3	San Francisco, CA	57.45	50	2
4	San Diego, CA	56.12	13	5
5	Seattle, WA	53.49	30	6
6	Madison, WI	51.91	7	11
7	Denver, CO	51.42	9	12
8	New York, NY	51.35	95	3
9	Boise, ID	51.26	1	17
10	Minneapolis, MN	51.20	20	10
11	Atlanta, GA	50.88	12	13
12	Washington, DC	50.21	61	7
13	Sacramento, CA	49.49	27	14
14	Orlando, FL	48.93	4	18
15	Philadelphia, PA	47.90	80	8
16	Boston, MA	47.67	81	9
17	Austin, TX	47.38	40	15
18	Reno, NV	46.11	3	33
19	Tampa, FL	45.77	18	21
20	Honolulu, HI	44.97	47	16
21	Scottsdale, AZ	44.67	14	30
22	Lincoln, NE	44.44	8	37
23	Las Vegas, NV	43.95	5	40
24	Tucson, AZ	43.92	21	29
25	Los Angeles, CA	43.86	45	19
26	Pittsburgh, PA	43.84	29	24
27	Colorado Springs, CO	43.77	34	22
28	Miami, FL	43.16	36	23
29	Milwaukee, WI	42.52	39	26
30	St. Paul, MN	42.48	37	31
31	Buffalo, NY	42.00	15	44
32	Charlotte, NC	41.51	23	43
32	Omaha, NE	41.51	53	25
34	St. Louis, MO	41.41	24	42
35	Cincinnati, OH	40.88	42	36
36	Irvine, CA	40.76	28	45
37	Phoenix, AZ	40.68	49	34
38	San Jose, CA	40.44	41	39
39	Houston, TX	40.30	60	32
40	Virginia Beach, VA	40.03	58	35
41	Baltimore, MD	39.50	93	20
42	Jacksonville, FL	38.97	64	38
43	Cleveland, OH	38.72	88	27
44	Norfolk, VA	38.21	92	28
45	Albuquerque, NM	37.46	31	57
46	Long Beach, CA	37.31	33	56
47	Fremont, CA	37.17	19	64
48	Henderson, NV	36.89	44	54
49	San Antonio, TX	36.77	66	49
50	Nashville, TN	36.65	70	48
51	Fort Wayne, IN	36.61	6	73
52	New Orleans, LA	36.52	59	51
53	Oakland, CA	35.86	67	53
54	Indianapolis, IN	35.71	74	50
55	Anchorage, AK	35.61	90	46
56	Detroit, MI	35.11	96	41
57	Raleigh, NC	34.91	51	60
58	Plano, TX	34.77	55	61
59	St. Petersburg, FL	34.72	32	71
60	Glendale, AZ	34.62	97	47
61	Anaheim, CA	34.55	16	78
62	Louisville, KY	34.46	48	65
63	Durham, NC	34.33	52	63
64	Tulsa, OK	34.25	65	58
65	Kansas City, MO	34.19	78	55
66	Stockton, CA	34.07	11	81
67	Baton Rouge, LA	33.86	43	69
68	Winston-Salem, NC	33.74	22	79
69	Chesapeake, VA	33.63	94	52
70	Lubbock, TX	33.59	17	82
71	Mesa, AZ	33.39	54	68
72	Dallas, TX	33.23	62	67
73	Greensboro, NC	33.15	76	62
74	Lexington-Fayette, KY	32.93	46	74
75	Columbus, OH	32.61	84	59
76	Riverside, CA	32.06	26	84
77	El Paso, TX	32.00	83	66
78	Chandler, AZ	31.89	68	72
79	Oklahoma City, OK	31.82	57	77
80	Birmingham, AL	31.59	25	90
81	Chula Vista, CA	31.22	10	89
82	Fort Worth, TX	30.37	79	76
83	Corpus Christi, TX	30.13	71	80
84	San Bernardino, CA	29.29	56	95
85	Gilbert, AZ	29.24	91	75
86	Fresno, CA	28.66	69	85
87	Aurora, CO	28.37	98	70
88	Wichita, KS	28.26	35	96
89	Santa Ana, CA	27.89	38	94
90	Toledo, OH	27.75	75	86
91	Memphis, TN	27.66	86	83
92	Jersey City, NJ	26.83	82	87
93	Garland, TX	26.11	73	93
94	Bakersfield, CA	25.55	77	92
95	Laredo, TX	25.46	72	97
96	Arlington, TX	25.30	87	91
97	Irving, TX	24.33	89	99
98	Newark, NJ	24.28	85	98
99	North Las Vegas, NV	22.79	99	88
100	Hialeah, FL	18.77	100	100

Ask the Experts

Maintaining an active lifestyle not only improves quality of life, but it’s also a much cheaper alternative to fighting and preventing illness. Promoting healthy choices, however, requires a group effort. We asked a panel of experts to share their advice on introducing positive changes both at home and at the policy level. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:

1. How can local communities encourage and facilitate active lifestyles among residents?
2. Does the presence of professional sports teams in a city encourage residents to be more active? Should cities subsidize professional sports franchises through tax incentives and facilities?
3. How can we increase access to and use of gyms and recreational facilities? Would incentives, such as tax deductions for gym memberships or penalties such as higher health care premiums, be more effective?
4. What tips do you have for someone looking to maintain an active lifestyle on a budget?
5. How can parents encourage children to be active in order to combat obesity?

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• Sharon Brown Professor of Exercise Science at Transylvania University
• Barbara Bushman Professor for the Department of Kinesiology at Missouri State University

Sharon Brown Professor of Exercise Science at Transylvania University

How can local communities encourage and facilitate active lifestyles among residents?

The mantra from the film Field of Dreams was “If you build it, they will come.” This saying applies to what city planners call the “built environment” for active lifestyles as well. Studies have shown that if you build parks, soccer fields, and baseball fields, if you build walking paths and biking paths, if you build playgrounds, basketball courts, and tennis courts -- people who live in the neighborhood will use them.

It is no surprise -- if you don’t build in easy access to outdoor recreation, people will not be as active. The greater effort it takes to be active, the less active people will be. The easier it is to be active, the more active they will be.

Of course, there is another kind of infrastructure that is less tangible but is just as needed. For example, bike lanes are what you can see, but bike maintenance classes, bike safety classes, bike giveaways, helmet giveaways, and community run bike shops are also a necessary part of any solution.

In Lexington, we are building a new multi-use trail through the center of town called The Town Branch Trail. It will connect the city center with many adjacent bike lanes, including a bike path that will link people to the beautiful Kentucky rolling hill landscape. The trail has been designed to include all types of users, not only cyclists, but also walkers. The design of the trail will contain elements of water, the natural history of the area, and celebrate art and nature (a biophilic environment intended to enhance environmental wellness). It will be a public space designed to promote not only physical activity, but also social and emotional wellness.

Does the presence of professional sports teams in a city encourage residents to be more active? Should cities subsidize professional sports franchises through tax incentives and facilities?

Well, if you look around our neighborhood when the University of Kentucky basketball team is in the playoffs, you realize that it doesn’t take a professional team to inspire young athletes to want to go outside and play basketball. Of course, on any given game day far more people are spending their time sitting on a couch or their recliner watching other people play sports, rather than playing sports themselves. If cities decide to subsidize professional sports franchises, it should be done for other reasons than to make people more fit.

How can we increase access to and use of gyms and recreational facilities? Would incentives--such as tax deductions for gym memberships--or penalties--such as higher health care premiums--be more effective?

I am a big advocate of outdoor recreation, which we now call green exercise, particularly for young people, but also for people in general. There is something about being active outdoors that never gets boring and provides so many benefits beyond physical fitness. New evidence also highlights the psychological benefits of exercising outdoors. Because of that, I would tend to want to put money towards parks that have places for sports, for play, and for walking, running, and biking.

What tips do you have for someone looking to maintain an active lifestyle on a budget?

Find ways to build activity into your life -- have a personal built environment: walk or bike instead of driving, take the stairs instead of the elevator, clean your own house, do your own outside work, cut your own fruit and vegetables, wash your own car, play with your dog. If you are just getting started, put on a comfortable pair of shoes and walk out your front door. Our health behaviors, including our physical activity behaviors, have been shown to be socially contagious. Invite a friend or family members to exercise with you.

How can parents encourage children to be active in order to combat obesity?

I would say that today’s typical fitness model for adults should not be used with children, that is they should not expect children to run on treadmills, ride stationary bikes, or lift weights. Play is the key. Play is actually the key for adults, too. My own formula for everyone is: move more, mostly outside, often with others.

Barbara Bushman Professor for the Department of Kinesiology at Missouri State University

How can local communities encourage and facilitate active lifestyles among residents?

Having welcoming environments for being active helps to encourage activity. Walking paths that are accessible, safe, and inviting will promote use. Within the city closest to where I live, there are a number of paved greenway trails. I personally enjoy walking with my husband and dogs and smile as I see many of the same individuals week after week also out enjoying the trails. Older, younger, high and lower fitness -- the range of individuals out and moving is encouraging. The trails are well-maintained and this creates an appealing atmosphere for walkers, runners, and cyclists.

An additional motivational aspect to consider is social support. Linking with other like-minded individuals can be helpful when getting started or to help stick with a program of activity. Examples include mall walking groups and activity-specific clubs (e.g., running, cycling, ballroom dancing). Even for those who may not have support within their family unit, finding individuals in the community who have similar interests can provide encouragement to be and stay active. Another “social” aspect that has some research support is dog walking -- a potential pet-prompt for being active.

What tips do you have for someone looking to maintain an active lifestyle on a budget?

Too often cost is considered a hurdle. Although there are benefits to having a gym membership or to purchase home exercise equipment (e.g., convenience), being physically active doesn’t need to break the bank. Activity program options can include no cost, equipment-free activities such a calisthenics, walking or jogging, flexibility exercise that only requires some floor space, exercise programs on public TV or exercise DVD’s from the public library, or even videos from YouTube (find some reputable sources). Other low-cost options for a home-based program might include elastic bands/tubing for resistance training or a stability ball for balance and coordination.

An additional investment is a good pair of shoes, with consideration for matching shoe selection with type of activity (e.g., running shoes are constructed for forward motion rather than lateral movement). Rather than assuming the most expensive shoes are required, look for good fitting and supportive shoes. With some planning, an individual can create a complete exercise program with a low-modest investment. For those who are just getting started, the saying “start low and go slow” simplifies the recommendation of starting at a low to moderate intensity and building up from that point. Progressing one’s exercise program gradually over time will provide additional health and fitness benefits, while avoiding the discouragement of taking on too much too fast. Making exercise a lifelong habit will require attention to personal goal setting, and a willingness to adapt one’s program over the course of life as interests may change.

How can parents encourage children to be active in order to combat obesity?

Getting started and staying active is the goal.

“It is never too early in life to start developing healthy habits. Active youth have a better chance of growing into healthy adults. Risk factors for chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis have their roots early in life. Regular physical activity and healthy dietary habits are two ways to lower the chance of developing risk factors for chronic lifestyle diseases.” -- ACSM’s Complete Guide to Fitness & Health

Encouraging both physical activity and healthy eating can promote health and fitness for youth. Some practical suggestions for families to encourage activity include using an activity chart where the child (and parents) can track activity; this can be a fun, low-level competition to see who can meet 300 minutes of activity first. Another suggestion is limiting TV time and replacing that sedentary time with some fun activities (e.g., dance videos, playing an active outdoor game). Consider the value for everyone in developing a family atmosphere where movement and physical activity are the norms. In addition to infusing physical activity into the fabric of life, promoting a healthy approach to nutritional choices is key (e.g., limit fast food, eat breakfast together as a family, limit/avoid soda consumption by considering substitutions).

Methodology

In order to determine the best cities for an active lifestyle, WalletHub compared the 100 most populated U.S. cities across two key dimensions, “Budget & Participation” and “Sports & Outdoors.”

We evaluated those dimensions using 34 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for a physically active population. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available only at the state level and therefore were half-weighted.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its Active Lifestyle Score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area.

Budget & Participation – Total Points: 30

• Average Monthly Fitness-Club Fee: Double Weight (~5.45 Points)
• Average Cost of Sports Apparel: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)Note: This metric considers the average price of a pair of running shoes as a proxy for the cost of sports apparel.
• Average Bowling Cost: Half Weight (~1.36 Points)
• Average Cost of Tennis-Court Rent: Half Weight (~1.36 Points)Note: “Average Cost” is for one hour of rent during the weekend.
• Sporting-Goods Stores per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
• Sports Clubs per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
• Share of Physically Inactive Adults: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
• Little Leagues per Capita: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
• Intramural Leagues per Capita: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
• Pick-Up Soccer Meetups per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)
• Presence in Fitbit’s ‘Fittest Cities in America’ Ranking: Full Weight (~2.73 Points)

Sports & Outdoors – Total Points: 70

• Basketball Hoops per Capita*: Double Weight (~4.59 Points)
• Baseball & Softball Diamonds per Capita*: Double Weight (~4.59 Points)
• Swimming Pools per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Tennis Courts per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Public Golf Courses per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Ice-Skating Rinks per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Skateboard Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Dance Schools per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Bike Score: Double Weight (~4.59 Points)
• Bike-Rental Facilities per Capita*: Half Weight (~1.15 Points)
• Bike-Sharing Program: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Fitness Centers per Capita*: Double Weight (~4.59 Points)
• Fitness Trainers & Aerobics Instructors per Capita: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Playgrounds per Capita*: Double Weight (~4.59 Points)
• Parkland Acres per Capita: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Walk Score: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Hiking Trails per Capita*: Double Weight (~4.59 Points)
• Running Trails per Capita*: Double Weight (~4.59 Points)
• Walking Trails per Capita*: Double Weight (~4.59 Points)
• Proximity to Ski Resort: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Proximity to Major Lake/Ocean: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Weather: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.
• Air Quality: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)

 Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Council for Community and Economic Research, United States Environmental Protection Agency, White Book of Ski Areas, Numbeo, Active, IMLeagues, Trust for Public Land, Meetup, Yelp, Walk Score, Bikeshare.com, Golf.com, Fitbit, Under Armour and WalletHub research.

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