There are many cities around the world that boast of great living conditions. The United States has a number of them that not only invest in the working sector and entertainment, but also in cultivating city-dwellers to lead an active lifestyle.
In a recent Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index, they concluded that active living environments have residents experience better outcomes in certain key aspects of their well-being. Active living environments are created when cities invest in parks, bike paths, a robust public transport system and walkability.
With these key indicators, the report rated 48 medium- to large-size metro communities around the U.S. to a metric called the Active Living score, where cities were ranked according to where it was best to live and maintain an active lifestyle. The top five cities are: Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Washington D.C.
In these cities, the residents have, on average, significantly lower numbers obesity, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, smoking and depression. Inversely, these cities also showcased significantly higher rates of healthy eating, fresh produce consumption, exercise and those thriving in physical well-being, compared to inhabitants in communities who have low active living infrastructure. In an article from USA Today, experts spoke of the benefits of a city that focuses on promoting a healthier lifestyle.
"From protected bike lanes, mixed use development, trails, and wide sidewalks to landscaping and other amenities, it's been proven that an active environment results in healthier citizens, steadier long-term growth, and a more vibrant economy," said Dan Burden, director of innovation and inspiration at Blue Zones.
Although these places also boast high living expenses, the median for healthy living in the U.S. compares well against the escalating problem of deteriorating urban health across the globe. In the World Health Organization's Global Report on Urban Health, they were able to see that although certain cities were able to make strides in achieving the Millennium Development Goals set, cities in developing countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and South America still have unequal access to facilities that could improve their well-being and health.
