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Three California cities, led by San Francisco, are in the top 10 healthiest cities in America, according to a new report.
With more than 7 in 10 U.S. adults overweight and medical costs rising, personal finance website WalletHub has launched a new website to show where people are saving the most and spending the most. We have released a report and expert commentary on America’s Healthiest Cities in 2024. money.
WalletHub compared over 180 of the largest U.S. cities across 41 key metrics. Data sets range from the cost of medical visits to fruit and vegetable intake to the proportion of adults who are physically active.
healthiest city
San Francisco came out on top, being recognized as the healthiest city in the country. Second place went to Honolulu HI. Next is Seattle, Washington. San Diego, California. Washington, DC; Portland, Oregon. Denver, Colorado. Salt Lake City, Utah. Scottsdale, Ariz. and Irvine, Calif., No. 10;
unhealthiest city
At the bottom of the list is Huntington, West Virginia, at No. 173, followed by Detroit, Michigan, which ranks as the 10th most unhealthy city. Corpus Christi, Texas. Fayetteville, North Carolina. Augusta, Georgia. Shreveport, Louisiana. Columbus, Georgia. Laredo, Texas. Gulfport, Mississippi. And at the bottom of the list is Brownsville, Texas.
Key statistics
Overland Park, Kansas, has the lowest rate of physically unhealthy adults, 2.4 times higher than Augusta, Georgia, which has the highest rate.
Laredo, Texas has the lowest cost per doctor’s visit, 3.1 times cheaper than the most expensive city, Juneau, Alaska.
Portland, Maine, has the lowest percentage of adults who eat fruit less than once a day, 1.6 times as many as Chattanooga, Tennessee, which has the highest percentage.
Lubbock, Texas has the lowest average monthly cost for health club memberships, 8.8 times cheaper than the most expensive city, New York.
“Staying healthy is an individual responsibility, and everyone should strive to eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and take care of their mental health. But where people live can have a huge impact on your ability to stay healthy, so the best cities are those with the best access to quality healthcare, green space, recreation centers, and healthy food. ” said WalletHub Analyst Cassandra Happe. “San Francisco is the healthiest city in America, in part because we have the lowest rate of obese adults in the country, at just 19 percent of the population. San Franciscans eat well and have good opportunities to exercise. San Francisco has the second lowest percentage of people who consume less than one serving of fruits and vegetables per day, and 100% of the population lives near some type of physical activity.”
To view the full report, visit https://wallethub.com/edu/healthiest-cities/31072.
Expert commentary
What are the most important factors to consider when choosing a city that is good for your health?
“From my perspective, affordability and cost of living, access to health care and quality of care, and safety and social support are at the top of the list. Cities with affordable housing, health care, and daily living costs. , a comfortable standard of living, which reduces financial stress and leads to overall health and well-being. Cities with easy access to health care and quality care reduce the stress of illness. Easy access to care and quality care are always key aspects of improving health. Safe cities with strong social and community support improve mental health and emotional well-being. And strong social connections can provide a level of support even during difficult times for individuals.”
Dr. Jia Yu – Associate Professor, Southern Connecticut State University
Do you have any tips for people looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle on a budget?
“Living a better, healthier life costs nothing. The investment you make is in sweating and learning how to cook healthily. The return is fewer illnesses and problems, It’s both economic value and intangible value because it allows you to stay on the planet longer. Adding vegetables to noodles or rice costs about $2.50 less, which is generally cheaper than frozen food.”
Peter A. Munnig – Professor, Columbia University
What steps can local governments take to improve local health systems?
“There are several suggestions that local governments can make to improve their local health care systems.Improve access to health care for all residents, including low-income households, uninsured groups, and underserved communities. Strengthen public health programs to raise awareness of prevention, care, healthy lifestyles, and disease management to reduce the burden on health facilities. Develop emergency response plans and infrastructure to effectively manage public health crises (such as the COVID-19 pandemic), natural disasters, and other emergencies. ”
Dr. Jia Yu – Associate Professor, Southern Connecticut State University
“Prevention is the best cure. Improving local health systems starts with improving the health of the population so that existing health systems are not overburdened. Pollution reduction efforts include by covering areas with parks and filtering the air; relocating logistics locations outside of densely populated cities; increasing the amount of green space; increasing the number of bike lanes; increasing the number of bike-sharing programs; Other methods include: active transportation.”
Peter A. Munnig – Professor, Columbia University
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