Do you live in the fittest city in America? Check these ranking and find out.

Living near parks, bike trails and green space is as important as being motivated when it comes to achieving your fitness goals, experts say.

Not all communities provide such amenities.

Those that hit all the marks showed up in the annual American Fitness Index released Tuesday by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Elegance Health Foundation. The index ranks the nation’s 100 largest cities on 33 personal and community health indicators. The index measures whether people in a city walk and bike to work and how much a city spends on public parks. It also assesses a city’s food security, smoking rates, overall mental health and the quality of sleep residents get.

According to the index, Arlington, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Seattle were ranked as the three fittest cities in the nation this year.

 A recent World Health Organization study revealed that since 2010, an increasing number of adults are not meeting recommended exercise levels. Physical inactivity significantly heightens the risk of heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, dementia, and certain types of cancer.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that people get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week and perform muscle-strengthening exercises twice a week. However, the 2024 index found that only 51% of adults met the aerobic activity recommendations, and a mere 24% achieved both the aerobic and strength activity goals

According to ACSM President Stella Volpe, exercise professionals would like 80% of adults to meet the weekly aerobic activity threshold. Volpe explained that the purpose of the fitness index is to remind community leaders about the importance of fostering overall community health. This could involve investing in amenities like hiking and biking trails, public parks, or pedestrian-friendly spaces. As a result, the fitness index focuses more on a community’s built environment than individual health habits.

“We want to look at communities because that’s what we feel impacts public health and why people might get out more,” Volpe said.

The city has regained its position at the forefront once more.

For the 7th year in a row, Arlington, Virginia was named the nation’s fittest city. The Northern Virginia county ranked #1 in community and environmental factors, and #4 in personal health metrics. In fact, nearly 88% of Arlington residents reported exercising within the past month.

Volpe, who had recently visited the Netherlands, noted that Arlington’s plentiful outdoor activities were reminiscent of the active lifestyles she had observed there.

“Volpe noted that Arlington’s culture is evident in its built environment, with parks, bike paths, and walking trails that promote an overall culture of health,” said Volpe.

Arlington also scored well on other health measures, with 76% of residents getting at least seven hours of sleep per night and just over 3% smoking, the nation’s lowest rate, according to the report.

Washington D.C. and Seattle rank second and third, respectively.

The fitness index ranks municipalities within a metropolitan region, leading jurisdictions like Washington D.C. and Arlington to compete for the top spots. Located just across the Potomac River from Arlington, Washington D.C. ranks as the index’s second-fittest city.

Washington, D.C. residents demonstrated healthy eating habits, with 38% consuming two or more fruits daily – the highest rate among the 100 cities surveyed. Additionally, over 21% of Washingtonians reported eating three or more vegetable servings per day, the second highest rate.

Beyond their nutritious diets, Washington residents also ranked among the top five cities for physical activity, public transportation use, and active commuting by biking or walking to work.

According to Volpe, Washington and Arlington are highly walkable cities with robust public transportation and safe bike lanes, enabling commuters to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines.

According to a recent report, Seattle residents had the third-highest rate of exercising, making it the third fittest city. The report also ranked Seattle third for its public spending on parks. Other cities in the top 10 included San Francisco, Madison, Minneapolis, Denver, Atlanta, Irvine, and St. Paul.

In contrast, Oklahoma City ranked at the bottom of the list. The report also placed Port St. Lucie, Memphis, Wichita, and North Las Vegas among the bottom five out of 100 individual city rankings.

Mental health issues continue to be a pressing concern.

The index highlighted the significant impact of mental health on a community’s overall wellbeing. Alarmingly, nearly 45% of people nationwide reported experiencing poor mental health in the previous month. Furthermore, 38% of respondents indicated they were also in poor physical health, underscoring the interconnected nature of mental and physical wellness.

The index highlighted disparities in access to mental health services, with many people unable to afford this critical care. Volpe noted that the percentage of people reporting poor mental health spiked after the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained steady over the past two years.

While exercise can help improve mental health, Volpe emphasized that lack of access to proper care remains a significant issue. “We need to ensure that people get the mental health support and treatment they need,” she said.

Agrawal, from Elevance, explained that the index evaluates mental health, diet, and physical health collectively because they are all interconnected. If someone lacks access to healthy, nutritious foods, that can contribute to anxiety. Additionally, people may turn to sugary, processed foods, which can increase their risk of developing diabetes.

“You can’t choose to focus on just physical health or just mental health,” Agrawal said, “because in the end, you won’t be truly fit. You have to address all aspects of overall health.”