According to the latest news from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, America’s 10 least obese metropolitan areas boast an average obesity rate of 18.7%, significantly better than the national average of 26.5% and over 15 percentage points lower than that nation’s most obese places.

Four of the top 10 least obese metropolitan areas are in Colorado – the Fort Collins/Loveland , Colo., area has the lowest obesity rate (16.0%), followed closely by Boulder, Colo., at 16.6%. Four metropolitan areas in California also made the list of top 10 least obese places in the United States. For the full top 10 list, click here.

Gallup determined the top 10 least obese metro areas by collecting body mass index (BMI) data from surveys in 187 metropolitan areas in 2009. An in-depth analysis of the Well-Being Index revealed that healthy behaviors, including regular exercise, healthy eating, frequent fruit and vegetable consumption, and non-smoking status, are common among residents in the 10 least obese metropolitan areas. At least half of residents in all 10 of the least obese areas reported exercising for at least 30 minutes at least 3 days a week.

Based on this Gallup poll, community conditions also play an important role in reducing obesity. Residents in almost all of the natio’s least obese places report above-average access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as having safe places to exercise, enough money to buy food, and health insurance.

All of the least obese metropolitan areas in the U.S. have lower rates of diabetes and heart attacks than the national average, evidence of the overall benefits of healthy eating and exercise. These least obese places can serve as examples from which other communities can learn to improve healthy behaviors, community conditions, and physical health, with the end result of improving quality of life and lowering the costs associated with chronic health conditions.

Source:

Gallup news release, 5 March 2010.