Top Five Healthiest Cities in America

Tweet

Obesity, diabetes and heart disease are some of the top health concerns that are threatening the lives of millions of Americans. Even though many people do not consider the United States a healthy nation, there are some cities that are much healthier than others. Below are five of the healthiest cities in the United States:


1.) Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis has some of the cleanest air in the country, which helps reduce the residents’ chances of developing asthma. People in this city also love to walk and bike to work. There are a number of sidewalks and bike trails in this city. Additionally, skiing is very popular during the winter months. Because people in Minneapolis are more active than the most of the country, they are less likely to develop diabetes and heart disease.

2.) Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. has one of the lowest smoking rates in the country. Non-smokers are less likely to develop heart disease and lung cancer. Walking is an extremely common mode of transportation in this city. On a given day, you will be able to see thousands of people walking the streets in D.C. The city also has several pools, recreation centers and tennis courts.

Not only are the people in Washington D.C. more active, but they also eat healthier. The city has several Farmer’s markets, which makes it very easy for the residents to get the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables.

3.) Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is one of the most active cities in the country. In fact, a recent survey has shown that 80 percent of the residents stated that they had exercised in the last 30 days. Many of the residents in this city walk or bike to work. Additionally, around 33 percent of the population takes public transportation. People who take public transportation usually walk a lot more than those who drive.

Only 14 percent of Boston’s residents smoke. This is lower than the national average. Furthermore, 25 percent of the population has stated that they eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

4.) Portland, Oregon
Walking and biking are two very popular modes of transportation in all of the United States’ healthiest cities, and Portland is no exception. The residents also have access to Farmer's Markets and some of the best health care centers in the country. One of the reasons that Portland is not higher up on the list is because it has a lower than average number of swimming pools and recreational centers. Additionally, many of the children who live in this city do not get the recommended amount of physical activity.

5.) Denver, Colorado
Denver has the lowest obesity rate in the country. In addition to the Rocky Mountains, Denver also has several golf courses, swimming pools and dog parks. Sixty-one percent of the residents in this city are in good or excellent health. Denver has fewer acres of parkland than many other cities, which is the only thing that kept it from being higher up on the list.

Lisa Dawson is a public health director and guest author at MPHOnline.org, a site with reviews of top-rated online mph programs.