By Mary Ellen Podmolik | Among large metropolitan areas,
Chicago isn’t doing well in the survival of the fittest.

A fitness index performed by the American College of Sports Medicine
ranked Chicago No. 33 among the 50 largest metropolitan areas when it
comes to residents’ health, fitness and the infrastructure that
encourages such a lifestyle. Last year, Chicago at least was in the top
half, but just barely, having ranked No. 25.

Meanwhile, for the third consecutive year, the Washington, D.C., area took top honors as the healthiest and fittest place to live among major metropolitan areas.

Factors used to determine to ranking include preventative health behaviors, level of chronic diseases, health care access and community resources and policies that support physical activity.