health:

Survey: Las Vegas no longer America’s fattest city

Miami moves to No. 1 as Las Vegas drops to No. 4

Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 | 12:07 p.m.

1. Miami
2. Oklahoma City
3. San Antonio
4. Las Vegas
5. New York

1. Salt Lake City
2. Colorado Springs, Colo.
3. Minneapolis, Minn.
4. Denver, Colo.
5. Albuquerque, N.M.

Men's Fitness: 2009 Fittest/Fattest Cities

Las Vegas is no longer the fattest city in the nation, according to an annual survey released by Men’s Fitness magazine.

Las Vegas dropped from No. 1 to No. 4 fattest in the 11th annual survey. This year, Miami has moved into the top position.

The survey uses a variety of data to determine which U.S. cities are the fattest, as well as which ones are the fittest, and Nevadans don’t have to go far to find the healthiest city on this year’s list. That honor went to Salt Lake City.

While Las Vegans enjoy plenty of sunshine and many outdoor recreation opportunities, Las Vegas suffers from an abundance of fast food restaurants and an overweight population, the magazine said.

“According to the CDC, 38.7 percent of adults here are heavy enough to increase their risk for weight-related health problems,” the magazine said. “That's the fifth worst score of any city in our survey. Compare it to a national average of 36.09 percent.”

While Las Vegas has more health food stores than most cities, the magazine says the city also has 68 percent more fast food restaurants. Donuts are 84 percent more popular here and there are 106 percent more pizza places here than in the other cities that were analyzed.

Las Vegas doesn’t just suffer from an abundance of unhealthy food choices. Las Vegas ranked second lowest of surveyed cities in both aerobic and aquatic exercise.

Although the city has 60 percent more gyms and health clubs, Las Vegas had the fewest municipal parks of any of the cities surveyed.

The magazine gave Las Vegas a “C+” in mayor and city initiatives, while the state got a “D+” for its obesity initiatives.

Men’s Fitness gave Las Vegas a grade of “F” or “F+” in the following categories: sports participation, TV viewing, overweight/sedentary, junk food, city recreation facilities and access to health care.

Discussion: 1 comment so far…

By gqbossing

1/15/09 at 12:29 p.m.

Suggest removal

Problem here is poor people eat a lot more processed food which makes people fat, and the hispanic community tends to be at a higher obesity rate. Another reason is linked to free liquor when gambling...

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