INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis is the least healthy metropolitan city in the country, at least according to a new study.
The study looked at 50 cities across the country, but went beyond the city limits for the data. The cities are defined by Metropolitan Statistical Areas, meaning the counties also surrounding the city named.
In Indianapolis' example, the study analyzed the following areas:
- Indianapolis
- Carmel
- Boone County
- Brown County
- Hamilton County
- Hancock County
- Hendricks County
- Johnson County
- Marion County
- Morgan County
- Putnam County
- Shelby County
The study, ran by American Fitness Index and the Anthem Foundation, looked at statistics like obesity rates, fruit and vegetable consumption, smoking rates and the number of recreational facilities like parks and pools, all between 2008 and 2012.
All 50 cities in the study are given a score based on the statistics. The No. 1 city, Washington D.C., has a overall score of 77.9, while Indianapolis' is 26.6.
The next-worst four cities after Indianapolis (from worse to better) are Oklahoma City, Louisville, Memphis and Nashville.
Indianapolis was found to be below the target goal in the following health indicators:
- Physical activity in last 30 days
- Meeting CDC aerobic activity guidelines
- Meeting aerobic strength guidelines
- Consuming 2+ fruits per day
- Consuming 3+ vegetables per day
- Obesity rate
- Percentage of population in very good health
- Asthma rate
- Angina or coronary heart disease rate
- Diabetes rate
- Death rate for cardiovascular disease
- Death rate for diabetes
The city was found below the target goal number of the following recreational facilities:
- Ball diamonds
- Dog parks
- Park playgrounds
- Park units
- Recreational centers
- Swimming pools
- Tennis courts
On the bright side for the city, the study found that Indianapolis has more farmers markets per capita, more golf courses per capita and a higher level of state requirement for P.E. classes.
READ | Check out the full study here
The full rankings for each city are as follows:
1. Washington, DC
2. Minneapolis, MN
3. Denver, CO
4. Portland, OR
5. San Francisco, CA
6. Seattle, WA
7. Boston, MA
8. Salt Lake City, UT
9. Hartford, CT
10. San Diego, CA
11. San Jose, CA
12. Chicago, IL
13. Sacramento, CA
14. Atlanta, GA
15.5. Austin, TX
15.5. Raleigh, NC
17. Baltimore, MD
18. Richmond, VA
19. Virginia Beach, VA
20. Milwaukee, WI
21. Providence, RI
22. New York, NY
23. Cincinnati, OH
24. Philadelphia, PA
25. Cleveland, OH
26. Tampa, FL
27. Pittsburgh, PA
28. Saint Louis, MO
29. Los Angeles, CA
30. Kansas City, MO
31. Jacksonville, FL
32. Miami, FL
33. New Orleans, LA
34. Phoenix, AZ
35. Buffalo, NY
36. Riverside, CA
37. Dallas, TX
38. Columbus, OH
39. Charlotte, NC
40. Houston, TX
41. Las Vegas, NV
42. Detroit, MI
43. Orlando, FL
44. Birmingham, AL
45. San Antonio, TX
46. Nashville, TN
47. Memphis, TN
48. Louisville, KY
49. Oklahoma City, OK
50. Indianapolis, IN
