The best and worst Florida cities to get fit revealed, with Boca Raton taking the top spot and Lakeland coming in last.
When it came to fitness establishments, green space, the local food environment, walkability, obesity and inactivity levels and air quality, Reversed Health analyzed the data of 27 Florida cities with at least 100,000 residents.
Each factor was converted into a score out of 100 and weighted to create the final Fitness Index. A higher score represents stronger overall conditions for residents looking to lead a fitter and healthier lifestyle.
The Top Florida Cities For Fitness.
Boca Raton ranks first among Florida cities, with a Fitness Index score of 65.1. Its obesity and inactivity rates, at 23.2% and 19.3%, are also the lowest among the leading cities.
Tallahassee follows in second place, scoring 63.5. Their top score dealt with the amount of green space the city has for outdoor exercise.
West Palm Beach ranks third with a Fitness Index score of 62.9. It ties with Boca Raton for the highest concentration of fitness establishments.
Gainesville comes fourth, scoring 61.2. Their top mark came in for the highest percentage of park acres per 1,000 residents and clean air.
St. Petersburg completes the top five with a Fitness Index score of 58.9.
Neighboring Clearwater follows closely in sixth place, scoring 58.6. They also received high score from more green spaces.
Davie ranks seventh with a Fitness Index score of 57.0.
Miami takes eighth place, scoring 55.0. The city records the highest walkability result in Florida.
Sunrise ranks ninth with a Fitness Index score of 54.0 and Fort Lauderdale completes the top ten.
The 10 Florida cities ranking lowest for getting fit and healthy.
Lakeland ranks last among the 27 Florida cities, with a Fitness Index score of 27.5. It has only 6.2 fitness establishments per 100,000 residents, the lowest concentration in the state ranking and surrounded by fast-food restaurants which account for 52.88% of the food businesses measured, the highest share among the Florida cities.
Palm Coast ranks second from the bottom.
Jacksonville follows in third from the bottom with a Fitness Index score of 34.6. The state’s most populous city accounted for 48% of the fast-food businesses of the restaurant types measured.
Port St. Lucie ranks fourth from the bottom.
Palm Bay comes fifth from the bottom with a Fitness Index score of 40.2.
Cape Coral follows in sixth from the bottom, scoring 41.6.
Miramar ranks seventh from the bottom with a Fitness Index score of 45.1%
Tampa takes eighth place from the bottom, scoring 46.3.
Deltona ranks ninth from the bottom with a Fitness Index score of 46.4.
Pembroke Pines completes the bottom ten with a Fitness Index score of 47.0.
