JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville has been named 30th by The American College of Sports Medicine's ranking of fitness in the U.S.
The 7th annual American Fitness Index data report measures the fitness of 50 most populous metropolitan areas in the United States, ranked by a possible score of 100 points.
Jacksonville came in 30 out of 50 with a score of 46.6 out of 100. The most fit city was Washington DC with a score of 77.3.
The score was based on three factors:
Dr. Stephen Lucie, a local orthopedic surgeon, was pleasantly surprised about the results. But he said there is something anyone can do to to improve their health wherever they live - eat right.
"Exercise is good but you really have to watch what you eat. Because it's calories in, calories out." said Dr. Lucie. "Eat healthier, eat three meals a day, and don't snack unhealthy... Maybe next year we can crack the top 20."
Dr. Lucie has some simple advice for staying fit.
- Walk as much as you can. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes a day.
- Make sure you see a doctor regularly. They can help tailor a program for your specific needs.
The Full Ranking:
1. Washington, D.C.
2. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
3. Portland, Ore.
4. Denver, Colo.
5. San Francisco, Calif.
6. San Jose, Calif.
7. Seattle, Wash.
8. San Diego, Calif.
9. Boston, Mass.
10. Sacramento, Calif.
11. Salt Lake City, Utah
12. Hartford, Conn.
13. Raleigh, N.C.
14. Austin, Texas
15. Chicago, Ill.
16. Atlanta, Ga.
17. Pittsburgh, Pa.
18. Cincinnati, Ohio
19. Los Angeles, Calif.
20. Philadelphia, Pa.
21. Richmond, Va.
22. Virginia Beach, Va.
23. Providence, R.I.
24. New York, N.Y.
25. Baltimore, Md.
26. Miami, Fla.
27. Charlotte, N.C.
28. Riverside, Calif.
29. Buffalo, N.Y.
30. Jacksonville, Fla.
31. Tampa, Fla.
32. Milwaukee, Wis.
33. Cleveland, Ohio
34. Kansas City, Mo.
35. Houston, Texas
36. Phoenix, Ariz.
37. Las Vegas, Nev.
38. Dallas, Texas
39. New Orleans, La.
40. Columbus, Ohio
41. St. Louis, Mo.
42. Orlando, Fla.
43. Detroit, Mich.
44. Birmingham, Ala.
45. San Antonio, Texas
46. Nashville, Tenn.
47. Indianapolis, Ind.
48. Oklahoma City, Okla.
49. Louisville, Ky.
50. Memphis, Tenn.
For more information on the ranking visit the AmericanFitnessIndex.org