(EMAILWIRE.COM, January 02, 2003 ) This year, Men's Fitness editors present the fifth annual "America's Fattest Cities" with a sense of urgency greater than ever: Despite warnings from the magazine for the last five years and from health care experts and government officials especially during this past year, overweight and obesity rates continue to climb. According to the National Health and Nutritional Survey, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association in October 2002, roughly one out of three Americans is now obese, and if you factor in those who are overweight, nearly every two of three Americans has a serious weight problem. These statistics signal yet another increase over last year's numbers.

"The increases are across the board for all age groups, both sexes and in all races," said Cynthia Ogden, PhD, co-author of the study.

"If these rates continue - about one percent gain per year - we'll all be overweight by the year 2035 and obese by 2100," adds John Foreyt, PhD, director of the Nutrition Research Clinic at Houston's Baylor College.

What additionally fuels the urgency of the editors of Men's Fitness is the financial impact on the health-care system resulting from America's overweight condition at a time when the nation struggles economically: $120 billion (and climbing) is spent annually treating the results of this epidemic of obesity. Also troubling is the fact that 15 percent of all children below 19 are now overweight, and the numbers continue to rise along with the emergence of heretofore adult medical conditions, such as abnormally elevated cholesterol levels and adult-onset diabetes.

The Top 10 Fattest Cities

Texas cleaned up its act somewhat this year, with two cities dropping out of the top ten, but Houston retained its title as "America's Fattest City" for the third year running. Here are this year's top ten, with last year's list included for comparison:

2003

Houston, TX
Chicago, IL
Detroit, MI
Philadelphia, PA
St Louis, MO
Cleveland, OH
Atlanta, GA
Columbus, OH
Dallas, TX
Charlotte, NC
2002

Houston, TX
Chicago, IL
Detroit, MI
Philadelphia, PA
Dallas, TX
Columbus, OH
San Antonio, TX
Fort Worth, TX
St. Louis, MO
Indianapolis, IN
The Top 10 Fittest Cities

Honolulu climbed to the top of the list after coming in at number seven last year. Here are the top 10 fittest cities, with last year's list included for comparison:

2003

Honolulu, HI
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Colorado Springs, CO
San Diego, CA
Portland, OR
Denver, CO
Virginia Beach, VA
Tucson, AZ
Sacramento, CA
2002

Colorado Springs, CO
Denver, CO
San Diego, CA
Seattle WA
San Francisco, CA
Virginia Beach, VA
Honolulu, HI
Sacramento, CA
Albuquerque, NM
Boston, MA
Data-Gathering Method

To arrive at its findings, Men's Fitness evaluated the nation's 50 largest cities between July 2002 and September 2002. Cities were assessed in 16 commensurate categories, using data specific to each city. The categories were selected as indicators, risk factors or relevant environmental factors affecting fitness, obesity and health. Sample categories include: fruit and vegetable consumption, sports participation, smoking, drinking, air and water quality, length of commute, availability of parks/open spaces and percentage of overweight/sedentary residents.

Additional Findings

The health care system is being overwhelmed. $120 billion per year - and counting - is being spent treating an epidemic of diabetes and other disease caused by obesity.
Exercise is crucial. People tend to blame fast foods, snack foods and round-the-clock consumption for the epidemic, but many experts are convinced that people simply need to exercise more.
People need to get moving. Local efforts like the state-based "Colorado on the Move," which utilizes personal pedometers to get residents to walk more, are an excellent start. "Even moderate exercise, without breaking a sweat, is enough to start reversing the trend," says Jim Hill, PhD., director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado.
Communities need to rally. "We're finally waking up to the seriousness of it," says John Foreyt, PhD. "What's needed now is action starting at the local level." Real effort and funding need to be put into education, public health, parks and recreation, pedestrian-friendly development, and exercise and nutrition initiatives, he adds.
More Information on the Web

Go to the Men's Fitness web site at mensfitness.com for:

Complete reports on all 50 surveyed cities
A detailed explanation of the survey's methodology
Ways for any city to become a fitter place
An interactive body mass index (BMI) calculator
Strange fatness facts and local fitness lore
A discussion board for "America's Fattest Cities"
Media contact and interview information
Weider Publications, Inc., is the most influential publisher of the world's leading health, fitness and active lifestyle magazine brands, including Men's Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Muscle & Fitness Hers, FLEX, SHAPE, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. The Weider Power Portfolio™ of titles is represented by 46 editions; published and distributed in over 60 markets worldwide.

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Produced for Weider Publications, Inc.

Contact:

Deborah Broide, 973-744-2030
DeborahPub@aol.com

Lou Marino, 818-595-0432
lou.marino@weiderpub.com

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