Posted on 01/06/2006 7:46:49 AM PST by Millee
Baltimore has been named America's fittest city, with Chicago overtaking Houston as the fattest. Last year's fittest city, Seattle, drops to No. 8 in the new list, released today by Men's Fitness magazine.
When the annual survey named Baltimore the fittest city in America, many Charm City residents had the same response: You gotta be kidding.
Sure, people here are known for eating lots of seafood, but are crab cakes and deep-fried lake trout the staples of a healthy diet?
"I think it's probably the most mis-fit city in America," said Charisse Bailey as she dug into a typical Baltimore lunch: fried red snapper on thick white bread, with a side of french fries and a beer.
The city's skyline is dotted with neon signs advertising Domino sugar, Utz potato chips and National Bohemian beer. And while many neighborhoods, such as Fells Point and Federal Hill, have been transformed by an influx of young professionals, a Friday night visit to either reveals a culture that revolves around drinking and greasy food.
Nevertheless, Men's Fitness magazine placed Baltimore at the top of its annual list of cities where fitness is king, ahead of Honolulu (No. 2 for the second consecutive year), San Francisco (No. 7) and last year's winner, Seattle (No. 8).
The fattest city in America for 2006 is Chicago, taking over the dubious honor from Houston.
Last year, Baltimore was closer to Houston than it was to Honolulu, checking in as the 25th-fattest city in the Men's Fitness tally.
How could such a turnaround be possible in the span of a year? Men's Fitness editor Neal Boulton is quick to point out that the survey is far from scientific, and he says it took additional factors into account this year that worked in Baltimore's favor.
Among them: the amount of public park space, access to health care, air quality, the relatively small number of fast-food restaurants and the leadership of Mayor Martin O'Malley. Boulton says Baltimore has become safer, more prosperous and more conducive to fitness.
"Baltimore is a paragon of urban renewal. That's why it's the fittest city, that's why it's the comeback city," he said.
Boulton says he also reduced the importance of climate in the survey, which is one reason Baltimore squeaked ahead of Honolulu.
Rival magazine Men's Health had a different take on Baltimore. In its current issue, the magazine ranks Baltimore 93rd on its list of the "100 Best Cities for Men," with grades of "F" in health and quality of life and "C+" in fitness. San Francisco tops the Men's Health survey, and Honolulu is No. 2.
Baltimore residents seemingly would have had an easier time believing the Men's Health ranking. When told of the Men's Fitness honor, they invariably reacted with shock, bewilderment or outright laughter.
"Baltimore lives on junk food. That's why we're all standing here," said electrician Mark Smith as he surveyed the scene at Lexington Market. The popular downtown lunch spot has dozens of kiosks selling fried chicken and cheap Chinese food.
"I've been eating here for 21 years," Smith said. "I walk around and think, 'What's the lesser of the evils?'"
While the city has seen significant reductions in violent crime, large sections remain plagued by poverty and drugs, and residents of less prosperous neighborhoods often have to depend on convenience stores and takeout food for sustenance.
"We don't eat well at all," said Tremonteria Morgan, a vegetarian. "We eat a lot of fried foods — fried chicken and soul food. For myself, I have to search high and low for a health food place. We have a lot of obesity here in our city."
The mayor looked on the bright side, attributing Baltimore's increasing fitness to its economic revival and the end of its precipitous population drop.
"You see some neighborhoods starting to grow again, and attracting younger people. With those younger people coming, there's a number of gyms now," O'Malley said. "In every growing neighborhood, you look for two leading signs — one is a gym and the other is a Starbucks."
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The fittest and fattest cities in America in the annual survey by Men's Fitness magazine, with cities in order of ranking, and 2005 rankings in parentheses. An asterisk () denotes that last year's ranking was on the opposite list:
TOP 25 FITTEST CITIES:
1. Baltimore (25)
2. Honolulu (2)
3. Virginia Beach, Va. (12)
4. Tucson, Ariz. (8)
5. Milwaukee (15)
6. Colorado Springs, Colo. (3)
7. San Francisco (4)
8. Seattle (1)
9. Louisville-Jefferson, Ky. (not ranked)
10. Boston (11)
11. Sacramento, Calif. (7)
12. Nashville-Davidson, Tenn. (25)
13. Albuquerque (10)
14. Tulsa, Okla. (22)
15. Phoenix (12)
16. Atlanta (23)
17. Portland, Ore. (6)
18. Washington (23)
19. Oakland, Calif. (20)
20. Denver (5)
21. Minneapolis (13)
22. Arlington, Texas (22)
23. Austin, Texas (19)
24. Jacksonville, Fla. (18)
25. Omaha, Neb. (16)
TOP 25 FATTEST CITIES:
1. Chicago (5)
2. Las Vegas (9)
3. Los Angeles (21)
4. Dallas (6)
5. Houston (1)
6. Memphis, Tenn. (4)
7. Long Beach, Calif. (20)
8. El Paso, Texas (11)
9. Kansas City, Mo. (18)
10. Mesa, Ariz. (15)
11. Indianapolis (13)
12. San Antonio (10)
13. Fort Worth, Texas (14)
14. Miami (19)
15. Detroit (3)
16. Columbus, Ohio (16)
17. Oklahoma City (21)
18. Cleveland (24)
19. Wichita, Kan. (17)
20. Charlotte, N.C. (24)
21. San Diego (9)
22. Fresno, Calif. (14)
23. Philadelphia (2)
24. San Jose, Calif. (17)
25. New York (8)
Have these people ever even been to B-more? It is the home of (and I believe it is where they were invented) the highest per capita of fat ugly women anywhere on earth.
Ok, but I might have to get off this thread then.
Drinking and posting is never a good idea.
You may become a legend, and therein lies the danger.
"Drinking and posting is never a good idea."
My thoughts exactly. Especially when one is in a bit of a bad mood. LOL.
Not to mention the deaths at the hands of armed thugs while the citizens are denied any right to effective self-defense. One of my sisters has to work in Baltimore and she won't bother to replace her 12 year-old Ford Escort because she wouldn't want to have to park anything nicer there. Baltimore, like all Dem-controlled areas, is a craphole which is following D.C.'s lead into Third World status just as fast as O'Malley can push it there. Much of Maryland is beautiful and populated by good, sensible folks, but once you get into the D.C.-Baltimore area, it's another story altogether.
ROFL!! Who did Mayor O'malley pay to write this BS?
Trust me. Baltimore does NOT merit "fittest city award".
Makes more sense they made a typo and meant "fattest" city.
Everyone I have shown this to that lives here can't stop laughing!
I work in downtown Baltimore and I think Mayor O'Malley (he is running for governor this year) & the city paid off Men's Fitness mag, there is simply no way Baltimore is the fittest city. If anything we are in the top ten unfittest, walk into any office and its fat people everywhere. Of course the 60,000 heroin addicts keep the average weight per person low, lol.
This is stupid. How can Baltimore jump from 25 to 1 and Seattle go from 1 to 8 in one year? Answer? They can't. This is not a valid ranking system.
Whether BullS%&t or not I am just happy my home city Arlington, TX actually made a national list! :P
and if my business partner moved out of Fort Worth it might move off the fattest list! Hahaha!
I used to work the night shift at Hopkins Bayview. How I miss those late night runs to Sabatino's or to Greektown for food or to La Hacienda for fried ice cream. It was so good, Hon.
I was going to say that ducking bullets over and over might become some kind of beneficial aerobic exercise.
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