Wondering which city in America boasts the happiest people? Or the healthiest living? For the third year in a row, "SELF" Magazine has researched and compiled information on more than 200 metro areas in the United States. Editor in Chief Lucy Danziger reports the survey findings below.
"SELF" conducted the survey by consulting epidemiologists, physicians and experts from the CDC, NIH, FBI and EPA, along with other experts in women's health and fitness to help rank the factors that most contribute to a healthy lifestyle. With a list of 31 final criteria, including air quality, motor vehicle deaths, sexual health, access to medical care, the number of health clubs "” even days of sunshine per year "” they turned to demographic consultant Bert Sperling's Best Places in Portland, Oregon, to help gather the data and crunch the numbers. Here are some of the results:
STAMFORD-NORWALK, CONNECTICUT Perennially in the top 10 on "SELF's" list, this commuter community 40 miles north of New York City hit number one this year, finishing in the top spot in four crucial categories.
The area has one of the country's lowest unemployment rates and ranks tops for the number of health clubs, with 49 gyms per 100,000 people "” more than three times the survey's average. But there's more to healthy living here than easy access to a treadmill. "We're so close to New York City, yet it has the feel of pure countryside," says Stamford resident Aideen Mannion, 34. "There's tremendous hiking nearby, and the waterfront. And I love that you can walk to everything."
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE That Elvis called Memphis home didn't help it in our survey "” the city ranks below average in most categories "SELF's" experts deemed important. Violent crimes and rapes occur at close to double our survey's average rate. Memphis-area women have sky high rates of sexually transmitted diseases and rank in the bottom 6 percent for exercise; their average body-mass index is 27.3 "” overweight by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Standards. Plus, Memphis has a high number of motor vehicle deaths and ranks below average for healthy eating.
Memphis is however coming back to life according to resident Cary Cauthen, 31 who says, "You see more stores opening, hear about health programs on the radio. You see problems being attacked."
HAPPIEST PLACES 1. Asheville, North Carolina "” Women in the quiet community of Asheville report an astoundingly low frequency of depression "” 1.4 days per month on average, ranking in the top 2 percent of our survey. 2. Burlington, VT "” This city boasts low unemployment and crime rates, clean air, and a spot on serene Lake Champlain leave residents with little to mope about. 3. Canton-Massillon, OH "” Harry London Candies has been providing the area with chocolate confections-and edible mood booster-since 1922.
UNHAPPIEST 1. Johnstown, PA "” Folks here feel glum an average of five days a month-maybe because of the area's high unemployment rate. 2. Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL "” The low number of psychiatric professionals here isn't helping lift residents' spirits. 3. Ocala,FL "” Suicide rates in this Florida town are 96 percent higher than those of other areas surveyed.
SAFEST 1. Stamford-Norwalk, CT "” Residents have seen a double-digit decrease in Stamford's crime rate each year for the past seven years. 2. Bergen-Passaic Counties, NJ "” It's safe to be on the road in this area in northern New Jersey "” this area has 62 percent fewer motor vehicle deaths than our survey's average. 3. Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon Counties, NJ "” This area was in the top 10 percent for its low rates of violent crime and rape.
LEAST SAFE 1. Ocala, FL "” Compared with the other places SELF looked at, Ocala has more than twice the number of vehicular deaths "” with 25.7 killed per 100,000 residents. 2. Memphis, TN "” This city has an unusually high rate of vehicular deaths. 3. Lubbock, TX "” Lubbock's violent crime rate is almost six times higher than that of Stamford-Norwalk.
LISTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE "SELF's" survey compiled other lists like Fattest, Thinnest, Best Health Care, Worst Health Care, Lowest Life Expectancy, Best Sexual Health, Worst Sexual Health, Fittest, Least Fit, Fewest Cancer Deaths, Most Cancer Deaths, Healthiest Environment, Least Healthy Environment, Healthiest Eating, and Unhealthiest Eating. Some of last year's low ranking cities have been inspired to improve. Evansville, Ind., which was on the "most unhealthy lifestyle" 2001 list, and Fort Wayne, Ind., on the "least fit" 2001 list, have both tried to turn themselves around by launching new health campaigns. Tom Maier, director of fitness at the Tri-State Athletic Club in Evansville, teamed up with partners to start Get Fit Evansville, which hosts monthly health fairs offering expert advice on eating right and relaxation, as well as free health screenings. In Fort Wayne, cardiologist Peter Hanley enlisted the mayor's help to launch the Living Healthier Series to educate the community about issues like diabetes prevention and healthy eating. Evansville climbed four slots in this year's healthy lifestyle rankings; Fort Wayne jumped 17 places on the fitness scale.
SURPRISING FINDINGS One of the most surprising findings was the high STD rate in certain areas. With greatly increased awareness surrounding STDs more women should take steps to prevent these diseases by buying condoms. Eating habits are also a concern in some areas. In Texas, southern cooking brings down the rankings in many cities, with the exception of Austin. Texas residents had the highest body mass index "” all three of the "fattest" areas are in Texas.
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