Sacramento is number seven on the list. The only other California city in the top 10 is San Francisco at number eight.

Dr. Walt Thompson is with the American College of Sports Medicine which published the list. He says they look at a number of factors and Sacramento scored well, especially in the areas of diet and excercise.

 

“There are more farmers’ markets per capita. So it appears as though because of that they’re eating more healthy. And there’s more baseball diamonds, more playgrounds, more park units per capita that allow people the opportunity to exercise.”  

Thompson says Sacramento also scored higher because the region has a lower percentage of obesity, diabetes and people who smoke.

 

On the downside, the survey found Sacramento has less public transportation per capita and more people with asthma.

 

Washington D.C. tops the list of fittest cities…followed by Boston, Minneapolis, Seattle and Portland.