Least fit cities in America

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September 21, 2018
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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

#50. Garland, TX

2018 Fitness Index score: 48.9

City population: 234,588

Personal health score: 61.9

Community health score: 34.2

#49. New York, NY

2018 Fitness Index score: 48.6

City population: 8,537,673

Personal health score: 43

Community health score: 54.9

#48. Hialeah, FL

2018 Fitness Index score: 48.2

City population: 236,385

Personal health score: 59.1

Community health score: 36

#47. Irving, TX

2018 Fitness Index score: 48.1

City population: 238,284

Personal health score: 53.7

Community health score: 41.9

#46. Richmond, VA

2018 Fitness Index score: 47.7

City population: 223,170

Personal health score: 31.2

Community health score: 66.3

#45. Fort Worth, TX

2018 Fitness Index score: 47.6

City population: 855,897

Personal health score: 63.1

Community health score: 30.2

#44. St. Louis, MO

2018 Fitness Index score: 47.4

City population: 311,404

Personal health score: 29.7

Community health score: 67.2

#43. Glendale, AZ

2018 Fitness Index score: 47.3

City population: 245,849

Personal health score: 52.1

Community health score: 41.8

#42. Charlotte, NC

2018 Fitness Index score: 47.2

City population: 842,029

Personal health score: 64.7

Community health score: 27.5

#41. Houston, TX

2018 Fitness Index score: 46.9

City population: 2,304,388

Personal health score: 51.8

Community health score: 41.5

#40. Scottsdale, AZ

2018 Fitness Index score: 46.9

City population: 246,646

Personal health score: 52.1

Community health score: 41.1

#39. Riverside, CA

2018 Fitness Index score: 45.8

City population: 324,727

Personal health score: 48.7

Community health score: 42.7

#38. Las Vegas, NV

2018 Fitness Index score: 45.1

City population: 632,916

Personal health score: 38

Community health score: 53.2

#37. Jacksonville, FL

2018 Fitness Index score: 45

City population: 880,623

Personal health score: 35.4

Community health score: 55.9

#36. Nashville, TN

2018 Fitness Index score: 44.2

City population: 660,393

Personal health score: 38.7

Community health score: 50.3

#35. Bakersfield, CA

2018 Fitness Index score: 44

City population: 376,371

Personal health score: 50.2

Community health score: 37

#34. Baton Rouge, LA

2018 Fitness Index score: 43.4

City population: 227,707

Personal health score: 35.6

Community health score: 52.3

#33. San Antonio, TX

2018 Fitness Index score: 43.4

City population: 1,492,494

Personal health score: 47.9

Community health score: 38.2

#32. Jersey City, NJ

2018 Fitness Index score: 43.2

City population: 264,161

Personal health score: 35.8

Community health score: 51.6

#31. Lexington, KY

2018 Fitness Index score: 42.9

City population: 318,449

Personal health score: 43.2

Community health score: 42.7

#30. Greensboro, NC

2018 Fitness Index score: 42.8

City population: 287,019

Personal health score: 36.7

Community health score: 49.7

#29. Phoenix, AZ

2018 Fitness Index score: 42.5

City population: 1,615,041

Personal health score: 52.1

Community health score: 31.7

#28. Henderson, NV

2018 Fitness Index score: 42.4

City population: 292,977

Personal health score: 38

Community health score: 47.3

#27. Kansas City, MO

2018 Fitness Index score: 41.5

City population: 481,360

Personal health score: 32.9

Community health score: 51.3

#26. Chesapeake, VA

2018 Fitness Index score: 41.5

City population: 237,940

Personal health score: 35.4

Community health score: 48.3

#25. Chandler, AZ

2018 Fitness Index score: 40.9

City population: 247,459

Personal health score: 52.1

Community health score: 28.3

#24. Corpus Christi, TX

2018 Fitness Index score: 40.6

City population: 325,734

Personal health score: 28

Community health score: 54.7

#23. Baltimore, MD

2018 Fitness Index score: 40.5

City population: 614,664

Personal health score: 15.8

Community health score: 68.2

#21. Columbus, OH (tie)

2018 Fitness Index score: 40.3

City population: 862,643

Personal health score: 37.4

Community health score: 43.5

#21. El Paso, TX (tie)

2018 Fitness Index score: 40.3

City population: 683,088

Personal health score: 36.1

Community health score: 44.9

#20. Mesa, AZ

2018 Fitness Index score: 40.2

City population: 484,622

Personal health score: 52.1

Community health score: 26.8

#19. Philadelphia, PA

2018 Fitness Index score: 39.8

City population: 1,567,872

Personal health score: 20.3

Community health score: 61.7

#18. Arlington, TX

2018 Fitness Index score: 39.7

City population: 392,787

Personal health score: 47.2

Community health score: 31.3

#17. Fort Wayne, IN

2018 Fitness Index score: 39.2

City population: 261,342

Personal health score: 43.2

Community health score: 34.6

#16. Stockton, CA

2018 Fitness Index score: 38.8

City population: 307,057

Personal health score: 40.7

Community health score: 36.6

#15. Newark, NJ

2018 Fitness Index score: 38.6

City population: 281,770

Personal health score: 31.2

Community health score: 46.9

#14. Lubbock, TX

2018 Fitness Index score: 36.6

City population: 252,514

Personal health score: 37.8

Community health score: 35.3

#13. Memphis, TN

2018 Fitness Index score: 35.5

City population: 652,752

Personal health score: 33.9

Community health score: 37.3

#12. Laredo, TX

2018 Fitness Index score: 34.9

City population: 257,988

Personal health score: 34.4

Community health score: 35.5

#11. Winston-Salem, NC

2018 Fitness Index score: 34.5

City population: 242,200

Personal health score: 32.5

Community health score: 36.7

#10. Tulsa, OK

2018 Fitness Index score: 34.4

City population: 403,622

Personal health score: 29.8

Community health score: 39.7

#9. North Las Vegas, NV

2018 Fitness Index score: 34

City population: 238,689

Personal health score: 38

Community health score: 29.4

#8. Gilbert, AZ

2018 Fitness Index score: 33.5

City population: 237,120

Personal health score: 52.1

Community health score: 12.5

#7. Fresno, CA

2018 Fitness Index score: 33

City population: 522,021

Personal health score: 38.8

Community health score: 26.5

#6. Wichita, KS

2018 Fitness Index score: 32.5

City population: 389,927

Personal health score: 33

Community health score: 31.8

#5. Toledo, OH

2018 Fitness Index score: 30.3

City population: 278,512

Personal health score: 22.2

Community health score: 39.4

#4. Detroit, MI

2018 Fitness Index score: 30

City population: 672,829

Personal health score: 12.6

Community health score: 49.7

#3. Louisville, KY

2018 Fitness Index score: 27

City population: 616,261

Personal health score: 19.4

Community health score: 35.7

#2. Indianapolis, IN

2018 Fitness Index score: 26.9

City population: 852,506

Personal health score: 22.7

Community health score: 31.6

#1. Oklahoma City, OK

2018 Fitness Index score: 26.3

City population: 638,311

Personal health score: 23

Community health score: 30.1

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