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OKC Ranked Bottom of Health & Fitness Study

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Oklahoma City is the least healthy and least fit city in the United States, according to a new analysis of the 50 most populous metro areas

The twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are the healthiest, fittest cities, followed by Washington, D.C., and Boston, according to the annual American Fitness Index, released Monday by the American College of Sports Medicine. The index is based on a number of health factors, including percentage of residents who smoke, obesity rates, percentage of people who exercise and availability of parks, walking trails and farmers markets.

Oklahoma City is at the bottom of the list because of residents' personal health habits such as smoking, not exercising enough and not eating enough fruits and vegetables, said Barbara Ainsworth, president-elect of the sports medicine group and a professor in Arizona State University's exercise and wellness program in Phoenix.

The rankings:

  1. Minneapolis-St. Paul
  2. Washington, D.C.
  3. Boston
  4. Portland, Ore.
  5. Denver
  6. San Francisco
  7. Hartford, Conn.
  8. Seattle
  9. Virginia Beach, Va.
  10. Sacramento, Calif.
  11. San Jose, Calif.
  12. Richmond, Va.
  13. San Diego
  14. Cincinnati
  15. Salt Lake City
  16. Austin, Texas
  17. Pittsburgh
  18. Atlanta
  19. Providence, R.I.
  20. Baltimore, Md.
  21. Milwaukee
  22. Kansas City, Mo.
  23. Buffalo, N.Y.
  24. Raleigh, N.C.
  25. Cleveland
  26. St. Louis
  27. Philadelphia
  28. Chicago
  29. Orlando, Fla.
  30. New York
  31. Jacksonville, Fla.
  32. Phoenix
  33. San Antonio
  34. New Orleans
  35. Miami
  36. Charlotte, N.C.
  37. Nashville, Tenn.
  38. Columbus, Ohio
  39. Dallas
  40. Tampa, Fla.
  41. Los Angeles
  42. Houston
  43. Las Vegas
  44. Riverside, Calif.
  45. Indianapolis
  46. Detroit
  47. Birmingham, Ala.
  48. Memphis, Tenn.
  49. Louisville, Ky.
  50. Oklahoma City

Source: American Fitness Index from the American College of Sports Medicine

OICA The Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition is a statewide initiative coordinated by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy.