America may be the land of the free…but apparently it’s not always the land of the free weights. Recently, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) teamed up with the WellPoint Foundation to reveal their seventh annual American Fitness Index data report, called “Health and Community Fitness Status of the 50 Largest Metropolitan Areas.†Basically, it documents the state of the nation’s overall fitness M.O., focusing on preventive health behaviors, levels of chronic disease conditions, and community resources and policies that support physical activity. And the report found that when it comes to fitness, not all metropolitan areas are created equal.
Let’s begin with the best. The fit capital of the country is…wait for it…the capital itself, Washington, D.C., with a score of 77.3 out of 100 possible points. Next up is Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, clocking in at 73.5, followed by Portland, Oregon, at 72.1, and then Denver, Colorado, at 71.7. And in last place? Sorry, Southerners: It’s Memphis, Tennessee, which scored a low 24.8 out of 100.
But don’t get too discouraged if you live in Memphis—or anywhere but the capital, for that matter. After all, your location doesn’t have to define your fitness level. Just check out these awesome ideas for getting fit this summer, no matter where you live:
Get a Bikini Body That Rocks In Three Weeks
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Try It! Outdoor Exercise Moves