MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL DETHROWNS WASHINGTON DC AS THE FITTEST METRO AREA
This is a Press Release from the ACSM American Fitness Index.
Ryan Puckett at (317) 721-7221 or ryan@two-21.com (ACSM American Fitness Index™)
Ashley Crockett-Lohr at (317) 352-3849 or alohr@acsm.org (American College of Sports Medicine)
Scott Larrivee at (262) 523-4746 or scott.larrivee@wellpoint.com (WellPoint Foundation)
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL TOPS LIST OF HEALTHIEST, FITTEST METRO AREAS
Twin Cities Unseat Washington, D.C. in ACSM American Fitness Index™; $172,000 Grant to Improve Health in Two Metro Area.
INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time, Minneapolis-St. Paul is the healthiest, fittest metropolitan area in the United States, according to the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) annual American Fitness Index™ (AFI).
The 2011 AFI data report, “Health and Community Fitness Status of the 50 Largest Metropolitan Areas,” evaluated the most populous city areas to identify the healthiest and fittest places in the United States. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington edged out previous leader Washington, D.C. for the top spot this year with a score of 77.2 (out of 100 possible points).
Minneapolis-St. Paul and Washington D.C. (respectively ranked three and one in 2010) both improved their scores this year; however, the Twin Cities took the lead thanks to greater improvements in healthy behavior measures and a reduction in the percentage of smokers.
Several factors contributed to the Twin Cities’ ranking, including a relatively low smoking rate, an above-average percentage of exercising residents and moderate-to-low rates of chronic health concerns such as obesity, asthma, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. While the area reduced park-related expenditures this year, its percentage of parkland is still above average, as is the percentage of recreational facilities (other than swimming pools). Farmers markets in the area also increased this year, indicating a trend in healthier eating.
How Metro Areas Can Use the AFI Rankings
“The scores and rankings from the report indicate which metro areas are more fit and which ones are less fit,” said Walter Thompson, Ph.D., FACSM, chair of the AFI Advisory Board. “Although Minneapolis ranked first, there is room for improvement. At the same time, even the lowest-ranked areas have healthy residents and community resources supporting health and fitness.”
The AFI data report reflects a composite of preventive health behaviors, levels of chronic disease conditions, health care access and community resources and policies that support physical activity.
“A regular, scientific evaluation of the infrastructure, community assets, policies and opportunities which encourage healthy and fit lifestyles is imperative for cities wishing to provide a high quality of life for residents,” said Thompson. “Community health leaders and advocates in each metro area can use the AFI data report to easily identify their strengths and areas of opportunity.”
Grant to Provide Technical Assistance at the Metro Level
ACSM received a $171,880 grant from the WellPoint Foundation to present the 2011 AFI data report and establish pilot programs to improve health. Now, by translating key data from the AFI report, ACSM will provide technical assistance to low-ranking metro areas to help them improve health and fitness in their communities.
“As the founding sponsor of the ACSM American Fitness Index, the WellPoint Foundation is proud to be a continuing supporter of this healthy lifestyle measurement and improvement endeavor,” said Dr. Wesley Wong, regional vice president and national medical director of WellPoint’s affiliated health plans and member of the AFI Advisory Board. “Our involvement with ACSM and the AFI program illustrates our commitment to enhancing health improvement efforts across the country and allows us to be a stronger community partner in the states we serve.”
In 2011, the WellPoint Foundation grant will enable ACSM to work with community organizations in Indianapolis and Oklahoma City to pilot locally driven health improvement efforts. Four additional cities will be added in 2012 and 2013 respectively, bringing the total to ten cities that will receive tailored technical assistance from ACSM to improve the health of their communities.
This new programmatic effort will identify actionable areas with the best evidence for improving health, focus on doing the most good for the most residents – with a high priority on underserved populations – and work to make a community-wide impact quickly.
“There are no quick fixes when it comes to improving the health of an entire metro area,” said Wong. “However, our hope is that these pilots will identify some key strategies and tactics that may also work in other cities hoping to improve the health of their residents.”
The WellPoint Foundation’s support for the ACSM and AFI report is part of its continuing commitment to address health disparities and improve public health across the country. Through its State Health Index – a state-by-state compilation of public health measures – and Healthy Generations program, the WellPoint Foundation works to identify the issues most in need of attention and then directs its charitable support and volunteer efforts toward improving health in those areas. Reducing cardiac mortality rates, promoting active lifestyles and addressing the long-term health threats posed by childhood obesity are major focus areas of the Foundation.
