(AP) - Must be something in the coffee.
Seattle has been named the fittest city in the United States in the February issue of Men's Fitness magazine, leaping past the buff competition from Honolulu, Colorado Springs, San Francisco and Denver.
Virginia Beach was ranked the 12th fittest city. Last year, the resort town ranked third. Virginia Beach was ranked the eighth fittest in 2003.
Exercising faithfully and shunning fast food boosted Seattle to the top from No. 6 last year, Men's Fitness Editor in Chief Neal Boulton said.
"Eighty-five percent of Seattle residents get some exercise every month, and that's a really significant thing," Boulton said. The city's jittery love affair with espresso might fuel some of that activity, he noted: "There's not only a lot of it, it's pretty darn strong."
In its nonscientific Seventh Annual Fattest and Fittest Cities Report, the magazine compares 50 cities by weighing 14 factors, including fast food restaurants per capita, TV watching, air quality, and parks. In Seattle, for example, sporting goods stores and gyms outnumber fast food joints -- a key statistic.
Houston was named the fattest city for the fourth time in five years, followed by Philadelphia, Detroit, Memphis and Chicago.
Seattle's claim to the fitness crown makes sense to Doug Sherry and his Wheaten Terrier, Bing, who walk the three-mile path around Seattle's Green Lake every day, rain or shine.
"Everyone I know does something," explained Sherry, 35, who also hits the gym several times a week. "There's lots of good terrain to walk and bike and hike. You're close to the water, you're close to the mountains."
His advice for those seeking to emulate Seattle's healthy ways?
"Enjoy the outdoors," Sherry said. "And get a dog."
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Below are thehe fittest and fattest cities in the United States, according to a survey in the February issue of Men's Fitness magazine:
FITTEST CITIES
1. Seattle
2. Honolulu
3. Colorado Springs, Colo.
4. San Francisco
5. Denver
6. Portland, Ore.
7. Sacramento, Calif.
8. Tucson, Ariz.
9. San Diego
10. Albuquerque, N.M.
11. Boston
12. Virginia Beach, Va.
13. Minneapolis
14. Fresno, Calif.
15. Milwaukee
16. Omaha, Neb.
17. San Jose, Calif.
18. Jacksonville, Fla.
19. Austin, Texas
20. Oakland, Calif.
21. Los Angeles
22. Arlington, Texas
23. Washington, D.C.
24. Cleveland, Ohio
25. Nashville-Davidson, Tenn.
FATTEST CITIES
1. Houston
2. Philadelphia
3. Detroit
4. Memphis, Tenn.
5. Chicago
6. Dallas
7. New Orleans
8. New York
9. Las Vegas
10. San Antonio
11. El Paso, Texas
12. Phoenix
13. Indianapolis
14. Fort Worth, Texas
15. Mesa, Ariz.
16. Columbus, Ohio
17. Wichita, Kan.
18. Kansas City, Mo.
19. Miami
20. Long Beach, Calif.
21. Oklahoma City, Okla.
22. Tulsa, Okla.
23. Atlanta
24. Charlotte, N.C.
25. Baltimore
Seattle has been named the fittest city in the United States in the February issue of Men's Fitness magazine, leaping past the buff competition from Honolulu, Colorado Springs, San Francisco and Denver.
Virginia Beach was ranked the 12th fittest city. Last year, the resort town ranked third. Virginia Beach was ranked the eighth fittest in 2003.
Exercising faithfully and shunning fast food boosted Seattle to the top from No. 6 last year, Men's Fitness Editor in Chief Neal Boulton said.
"Eighty-five percent of Seattle residents get some exercise every month, and that's a really significant thing," Boulton said. The city's jittery love affair with espresso might fuel some of that activity, he noted: "There's not only a lot of it, it's pretty darn strong."
In its nonscientific Seventh Annual Fattest and Fittest Cities Report, the magazine compares 50 cities by weighing 14 factors, including fast food restaurants per capita, TV watching, air quality, and parks. In Seattle, for example, sporting goods stores and gyms outnumber fast food joints -- a key statistic.
Houston was named the fattest city for the fourth time in five years, followed by Philadelphia, Detroit, Memphis and Chicago.
Seattle's claim to the fitness crown makes sense to Doug Sherry and his Wheaten Terrier, Bing, who walk the three-mile path around Seattle's Green Lake every day, rain or shine.
"Everyone I know does something," explained Sherry, 35, who also hits the gym several times a week. "There's lots of good terrain to walk and bike and hike. You're close to the water, you're close to the mountains."
His advice for those seeking to emulate Seattle's healthy ways?
"Enjoy the outdoors," Sherry said. "And get a dog."
---------------------------------
Below are thehe fittest and fattest cities in the United States, according to a survey in the February issue of Men's Fitness magazine:
FITTEST CITIES
1. Seattle
2. Honolulu
3. Colorado Springs, Colo.
4. San Francisco
5. Denver
6. Portland, Ore.
7. Sacramento, Calif.
8. Tucson, Ariz.
9. San Diego
10. Albuquerque, N.M.
11. Boston
12. Virginia Beach, Va.
13. Minneapolis
14. Fresno, Calif.
15. Milwaukee
16. Omaha, Neb.
17. San Jose, Calif.
18. Jacksonville, Fla.
19. Austin, Texas
20. Oakland, Calif.
21. Los Angeles
22. Arlington, Texas
23. Washington, D.C.
24. Cleveland, Ohio
25. Nashville-Davidson, Tenn.
FATTEST CITIES
1. Houston
2. Philadelphia
3. Detroit
4. Memphis, Tenn.
5. Chicago
6. Dallas
7. New Orleans
8. New York
9. Las Vegas
10. San Antonio
11. El Paso, Texas
12. Phoenix
13. Indianapolis
14. Fort Worth, Texas
15. Mesa, Ariz.
16. Columbus, Ohio
17. Wichita, Kan.
18. Kansas City, Mo.
19. Miami
20. Long Beach, Calif.
21. Oklahoma City, Okla.
22. Tulsa, Okla.
23. Atlanta
24. Charlotte, N.C.
25. Baltimore
