10 Healthiest Cities in USA

The American Fitness Index has announced the top 10 healthiest cities in the U.S. as part of its annual report. 

CNN has learned that Washington D.C. is dubbed the healthiest city in this year's report. This is the second time the nation's capital has ranked first place.

Time states Washington D.C. has an "above average access to public infrastructure," to thank for in securing the top spot. 

In second place is Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Then, the last three spots rounding out the top five were rewarded to cities in California. San Diego comes in third, while in fourth place is San Francisco (The Bay Area). Coming in fifth place is Sacramento.  

The following are the other five cities that made it to the top ten, from sixth to tenth place: Denver, Portland, Seattle, Boston and San Jose, California. 

"The American Fitness Index is two things: a measure of how healthy a metro area is today, and a call to action for urban and suburban leaders to design infrastructures that promote active lifestyles and lead to positive health outcomes," said Walter R. Thompson, chairman of the AFI Advisory Board.

Thompson added: "Our goal is to provide communities and residents with resources that help them assess, respond and achieve a better, healthier life."

Cities in the U.S. use the annual AFI report "to make changes in their policies and urban planning." 

For instance, St. Louis jumped from No. 41 in the healthiest cities list last year to No. 30 this year by observing the list and implementing changes, like increasing residential and recreational facilities and farmers' markets. 

The authors of the report-26 health and physical activity experts-conclude: "Emerging public health information suggests that to reach the U.S. [CDC's] goals to improve health and fitness, prevent disease and disability, and enhance quality of life for all Americans through physical activity, we must create a culture that integrates physical activity into our daily lives." 

As for the unhealthiest cities in the U.S., Medical Daily states Memphis topped the list, with Indianapolis dubbed the worse. It seems that Memphis was also ranked one of the unhealthiest cities last year, along with Nashville and Louisville. 

The list of the unhealthiest cities was derived from data obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).