- Syda Productions // Shutterstock
Least fit cities in America
The fitness industry in the United States is booming, with more than 57 million people working out at 36,540 heath and fitness clubs across the country. The total revenue for the industry topped out at $27.6 billion in 2016 and is expected to hit $87.5 billion globally in 2018.
Despite these dramatic numbers, not all cities across the U.S. are following the trend. The American Fitness Index (AFI) ranked 100 of the largest cities in the U.S. from most to least healthy using an index that included personal and environmental health factors. While some places boast a supremely healthy population, others fall behind on the curve due to lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, and the resulting obesity-related health conditions. Environment also comes into play, with the study factoring in a city’s walk score, options for public transportation, and number of farmers markets. Learn all about the methodology here.
Stacker took the bottom 50 cities from this list and ranked them from most unhealthy to least. To come up with the data, the AFI provided the overall index score, the personal health score, and the community health score for each city. Read on to find out where your city stacks up.
RELATED: States where obesity is on the rise
- 1 / 50David Wilson // Flickr
#50. Garland, TX
2018 Fitness Index score: 48.9
City population: 234,588
Personal health score: 61.9
Community health score: 34.2
- 2 / 50robertpaulyoung // Wikimedia Commons
#49. New York, NY
2018 Fitness Index score: 48.6
City population: 8,537,673
Personal health score: 43
Community health score: 54.9
- 3 / 50Phllip Pessar // Flickr
#48. Hialeah, FL
2018 Fitness Index score: 48.2
City population: 236,385
Personal health score: 59.1
Community health score: 36
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- 4 / 50La Citta Vita // Wikimedia Commons
#47. Irving, TX
2018 Fitness Index score: 48.1
City population: 238,284
Personal health score: 53.7
Community health score: 41.9
- 5 / 50Ron Cogswell // Flickr
#46. Richmond, VA
2018 Fitness Index score: 47.7
City population: 223,170
Personal health score: 31.2
Community health score: 66.3
- 6 / 50Mike Fisher // Wikimedia Commons
#45. Fort Worth, TX
2018 Fitness Index score: 47.6
City population: 855,897
Personal health score: 63.1
Community health score: 30.2
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- 7 / 50Bev Sykes // Wikimedia Commons
#44. St. Louis, MO
2018 Fitness Index score: 47.4
City population: 311,404
Personal health score: 29.7
Community health score: 67.2
- 8 / 50Tony the Marine // Wikimedia Commons
#43. Glendale, AZ
2018 Fitness Index score: 47.3
City population: 245,849
Personal health score: 52.1
Community health score: 41.8
- 9 / 50James Willamor // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Charlotte, NC
2018 Fitness Index score: 47.2
City population: 842,029
Personal health score: 64.7
Community health score: 27.5
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- 10 / 50BrianReading // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Houston, TX
2018 Fitness Index score: 46.9
City population: 2,304,388
Personal health score: 51.8
Community health score: 41.5