{"id":1171,"date":"2009-10-20T08:34:54","date_gmt":"2009-10-20T13:34:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fitzness.com\/blog\/?p=1171"},"modified":"2014-10-26T12:02:01","modified_gmt":"2014-10-26T17:02:01","slug":"healthiest-cities-for-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitzness.com\/blog\/healthiest-cities-for-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthiest Cities for Women"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SelfNov09-72dpi<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0SELF magazine, announces Burlington, VT as the nation\u2019s healthiest city in the 10th<\/sup> annual Healthiest Places For Women<\/em> <\/a>survey (November 2009 Issue). Analyzing the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, SELF\u2019s examination is the most comprehensive of its kind. Distinguished for its broad scope of research criteria, over 8,000 bits of data were evaluated to determine each city\u2019s level of healthy living.<\/p>\n

SELF polled a panel of experts to find out which factors most affect a woman\u2019s ability to live her healthiest. Then a list was compiled of 50 criteria, including rates of diseases such as cancer and depression; factors that affect access to health care:\u00a0 the number of doctors per capita and the percentage of each area\u2019s population covered by insurance; environmental and community measures: air quality, crime rates and unemployment statistics; and habits such as exercise, diet and smoking.<\/p>\n

\u201cSELF Magazine\u2019s Healthiest Places for Women<\/em> began 10 years ago to inspire women to get more active in their communities.\u00a0 We believe that little tweaks in your normal routine make a big difference,\u201d states Sara Austin, News Features Director.\u00a0 \u201cRegardless of where your city ranks on the list, there are simple tools SELF and Self.com\u2019s experts provide to assist every woman with fitness, health, nutrition and an overall sense of wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burlington, VT beat out the 2008 winner, Bethesda, MD\u2014now holding 2nd<\/sup> place\u2014due to the city\u2019s low rates of diabetes, cholesterol, smoking, cervical and ovarian cancer deaths and hypertension.\u00a0 Residents maintain a fit lifestyle by walking to work and frequent exercise regimes. The city also offers 40% more ob\/gyns than the list\u2019s average. Additionally, there are six times as many food co-ops in Burlington, with most farmers\u2019 markets now taking food stamps to increase the ability to eat right.<\/p>\n

Each year, new criteria are added to the study in response to climate and behavioral changes.\u00a0 In 2009, SELF added \u201cQuality of Sleep\u201d as a new category. \u201cWomen often underestimate how much skipping out on sleep can damage our health,\u201d states Austin. In the worst sleeping area, Charleston, WV, the average woman has insomnia 3 to 4 nights per week.\u00a0 Additionally, a unique sidebar was added to each page with get fit tips from women living in the unhealthiest ranked cities, emphasizing SELF\u2019s message that women can be healthy anywhere.<\/p>\n

2009 top five Best Places for Women<\/em><\/strong>, according to SELF Magazine and Self.com:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Burlington, VT<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bethesda, MD<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Portland, ME<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cambridge, MA<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 San Francisco, CA<\/p>\n

2009 Unhealthiest Places for Women<\/em><\/strong>, according to SELF Magazine and Self.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tulsa, OK<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Detroit, MI<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Oklahoma City, OK<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Indianapolis, IN<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Toledo, OH<\/p>\n

After many years at the bottom of the list, Detroit, MI has moved up a slot being replaced by Tulsa, OK at #100. Other cities with areas to watch out for include: Miami, FL (Exercises Least), Daytona Beach, FL (Most Diabetes), Los Angeles, CA (Dirtiest Air), Philadelphia, PA (Dirtiest Water), Memphis, TN (Most STDs), Anchorage, AK (Most Violent Crime), and Jacksonville, FL (Most Smoking and Drinking).<\/p>\n

Additional results in SELF\u2019s new rankings:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Exercises most: <\/strong>Madison, WI\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fewest health clubs: <\/strong>El Paso, TX<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most fast food outlets: <\/strong>Nassau-Suffolk counties, NY<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cleanest water: <\/strong>Raleigh, NC<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most allergies and asthma: <\/strong>San Francisco, CA<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most toxic sites: <\/strong>Riverside, CA<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Least unemployment: <\/strong>Billings, MT<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most unemployment: <\/strong>Detroit, MI<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Longest commute: <\/strong>New York, NY<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fewest STDs: <\/strong>Rockingham County, NH<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fewest Pap smears: <\/strong>Las Vegas, NV<\/p>\n

The November issue of SELF magazine will be on newsstands October 20, 2009.\u00a0 Log on to Self.com for the complete list, feedback from women in the bottom-ranked cities, tips to live like a local and further details about each city.<\/p>\n

SELF consulted the following sources for the feature including: American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Claritas (demographic information firm), Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, National Center for Health Statistics, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Green Building Council.
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