Baltimore Named Fittest City, Chicago Is the Fattest

Men's Fitness has released its annual list of the fittest cities, but the list looks a little "off" to some of us.

Men's Fitness editor Neal Boulton is quick to point out that the survey is far from scientific, and he says it took additional factors into account this year that worked in Baltimore's favor.

Among them: the amount of public park space, access to health care, air quality, the relatively small number of fast-food restaurants and the leadership of Mayor Martin O'Malley. Boulton says Baltimore has become safer, more prosperous and more conducive to fitness.

Last year's fittest city (Seattle) fell to number 8 this year. Tucson, where I live, has risen to number 4. I have to shake my head on that ranking. Maybe the Men's Fitness staff didn't get any further into Tucson than the barely-dressed young women at the University of Arizona.

Here are the best and worst cities:

The fittest and fattest cities in America in the annual survey by Men's Fitness magazine, with cities in order of ranking, and 2005 rankings in parentheses. Some were on the opposite list:

TOP 25 FITTEST CITIES:
1. Baltimore (25 fattest)
2. Honolulu (2)
3. Virginia Beach, Va. (12)
4. Tucson, Ariz. (8)
5. Milwaukee (15)
6. Colorado Springs, Colo. (3)
7. San Francisco (4)
8. Seattle (1)
9. Louisville-Jefferson, Ky. (not ranked)
10. Boston (11)
11. Sacramento, Calif. (7)
12. Nashville-Davidson, Tenn. (25)
13. Albuquerque (10)
14. Tulsa, Okla. (22 fattest)
15. Phoenix (12 fattest)
16. Atlanta (23 fattest)
17. Portland, Ore. (6)
18. Washington (23)
19. Oakland, Calif. (20)
20. Denver (5)
21. Minneapolis (13)
22. Arlington, Texas (22)
23. Austin, Texas (19)
24. Jacksonville, Fla. (18)
25. Omaha, Neb. (16)

TOP 25 FATTEST CITIES:
1. Chicago (5)
2. Las Vegas (9)
3. Los Angeles (21 fittest)
4. Dallas (6)
5. Houston (1)
6. Memphis, Tenn. (4)
7. Long Beach, Calif. (20)
8. El Paso, Texas (11)
9. Kansas City, Mo. (18)
10. Mesa, Ariz. (15)
11. Indianapolis (13)
12. San Antonio (10)
13. Fort Worth, Texas (14)
14. Miami (19)
15. Detroit (3)
16. Columbus, Ohio (16)
17. Oklahoma City (21)
18. Cleveland (24 fittest)
19. Wichita, Kan. (17)
20. Charlotte, N.C. (24)
21. San Diego (9 fittest)
22. Fresno, Calif. (14 fittest)
23. Philadelphia (2)
24. San Jose, Calif. (17 fittest)
25. New York (8)