Posted on 10/03/2002 8:12:11 AM PDT by ex-Texan
Healthy cities mean happy living
“SELF” Magazine rates more than 200 U.S. cities
Oct. 1 — 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:
HEALTHIEST PLACES
10. Honolulu, Hawaii 9. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, Calif. 8. Bergen-Passaic counties, N.J. 7. Ventura, Calif. 6. San Francisco, Calif. 5. Nassau-Suffolk counties, N.Y. 4. Burlington, Vt. 3. Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon counties, N.J. 2. Provo-Orem, Utah 1. Stamford-Norwalk, Conn.
UNHEALTHIEST PLACES
10. Gary, Ind. 9. Galveston-Texas City, Texas 8. St. Louis, Mo. 7. Ocala, Fla. 6. South Bend, Ind. 5. Biloxi-Gulfort-Pascagoula, Miss. 4. Flint, Mich. 3. Lafayette, La. 2. Indianapolis, Ind. 1. Memphis, Tenn.
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.
Excerpted from “SELF” Magazine. Copyright © 2002 by SELF. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt can be used without permission of the publisher.
For a direct link to "Self Magazine" go to the primary link below
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.com ...
Ventura, California is a surprise and I know it is a real gem of a city with beautiful little port and many things to do.
Give me a break!
BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH !
MSNBC is much too Politically Correct
10. Gary, Ind. 9. Galveston-Texas City, Texas 8. St. Louis, Mo. 7. Ocala, Fla. 6. South Bend, Ind. 5. Biloxi-Gulfort-Pascagoula, Miss. 4. Flint, Mich. 3. Lafayette, La. 2. Indianapolis, Ind. 1. Memphis, Tenn.
Especially today.
No wonder San Francisco is "healthier" than Ventura or Santa Barbara or many other places in the state or around the country. SF's high rates of sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS and syphillis are A-okay; as long as they have convenient medical care to help them get through the symptoms. Yuck.
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