Region takes nation's top fitness ranking

WASHINGTON - Break out your running shoes and your bicycle. The Washington metro area ranks No. 1 in fitness, according to the second annual American Fitness Index.

The region gets high marks for access to farmers' markets and for having fewer residents who smoke or who have diabetes.

The area's strengths include a lower percentage of obese people and a lower percentage with with angina or coronary heart disease. On the down, the index cites some per capita deficiencies, including fewer acres of parkland, fewer park playgrounds and fewer golf courses.

The index, sponsored by the WellPoint Foundation -- the nonprofit arm of the health benefits company WellPoint -- and released by the American College of Sports Medicine, says nearly 90 percent of Washington residents have health insurance compared to a national average of 86 percent.

It's the second year in a row the District has the honor. In total, 45 cities are ranked.

Here are the top 10 fittest cities:

1. Washington, D.C.
2. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
3. Denver, Colo.
4. Boston, Mass.
5. San Francisco, Calif.
6. Seattle
7. Portland, Ore.
8. San Diego
9. Austin, Texas
10. Virginia Beach

Baltimore ranks No. 19. Philadelphia was No. 27. New York was No. 22.

Oklahoma City placed at the bottom of the fitness rankings. Only 17 percent of people there eat five or more vegetables.

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