January 2002 (Znews.com / Newstream) -- Call it America under stress. In seeking solace from the events of 2001, many people have turned their backs on exercise to fill their faces. However, according to Men's Fitness, Americans can't attribute all the blame to current events for their expanding waistlines. "The obesity numbers have jumped 61 percent over the past decade," says Editor-in-Chief Jerry Kindela. "It doesn't help that 27 percent of us don't engage in any physical activity at all, and another 28.2 percent aren't regularly active."

Since 1999, Men's Fitness has spearheaded an effort to get people off their couches and into the gym by providing a comprehensive analysis of the fattest and fittest cities in the country.

THE TOP 10 FATTEST CITIES

This year's findings showed Texas to be the largest state of all - in more ways than one - with four cities making the Top 10 "fattest cities" list. They are, in descending order:

1. Houston, TX
2. Chicago, IL
3. Detroit, MI
4. Philadelphia, PA
5. Dallas, TX
6. Columbus, OH
7. San Antonio, TX
8. Fort Worth, TX
9. St. Louis, MO
10. Indianapolis, IN

THE TOP 10 FITTEST CITIES

California proved to be the slimmest state with three cities making the Top 10 "fittest cities" list. They are, in descending order:

1. Colorado Springs, CO
2. Denver, CO
3. San Diego, CA
4. Seattle, WA
5. San Francisco, CA
6. Virginia Beach, VA
7. Honolulu, HI
8. Sacramento, CA
9. Albuquerque, NM
10. Boston, MA

DATA-GATHERING METHOD

To arrive at its findings, Men's Fitness evaluated the nation's 50 largest cities between July 2001 and September 2001. Cities were assessed in 16 commensurate categories, using data specific to each city. The categories were selected as indicators, risk factors or relevant environmental factors affecting fitness, obesity and health. Sample categories include: sports participation, smoking, drinking, air and water quality, length of commute, availability of parks/open spaces and percentage of overweight/sedentary residents.

ADDITIONAL FINDINGS

• The fattest cities have common patterns. Citizens tend to have poor exercise and nutrition habits, watch a lot of television and experience more bad weather.
• It's not all about warm weather. Residents of the fittest cities tend to make fitness a priority, along with civic leaders who support them.
• Fitness awareness must start in the schoolroom, not the workplace. Stopping the current epidemic of obesity starts with children, who now spend more time in front of the television than they do at school.
• Communities can change. Philadelphia, 1999's "fattest city," used its dubious distinction as a catalyst to create an innovative, cost-effective fitness initiative involving community members, government and business, earning the First Annual Men's Fitness Fit City Achievement Award in the process. In 2000, Philadelphia dropped to #3, and this year the city ranks #4. Additionally, Columbus, Ohio, which has fallen into the top ten "fattest" city rankings for the last few years, has taken on the Men's Fitness Challenge by launching its own fitness plan called "Commit to Be Fit." 10,000 residents of central Ohio have already enrolled in the plan.
• Fat costs a ton. An estimated 300,000 Americans die of obesity-related causes each year, and the cost of obesity and inactivity account for nearly 10 percent of all health care expenses. Direct medical costs of obesity alone top $100 billion annually, and the price tag keeps skyrocketing.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEB

Go to the Men's Fitness web site at www.mensfitness.com for:

• Complete reports on all 50 surveyed cities
• A detailed explanation of the survey's methodology
• Fun factoids, weird statistics and local lore
• An interactive body mass index (BMI) calculator
• Ways for your city to become a fitter place
• 8 easy ways to lose 10 pounds
• Media contact and interview information