But what about the country’s healthiest city? That is none other than Virginia’s Arlington, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world.

Located just outside Washington, D.C., Arlington has been named the “fittest city in America,” according to the ACSM’s 2022 American Fitness Index Rankings, which were unveiled on Tuesday, July 12.

Arlington bagged the index’s top spot for the fifth consecutive year, usurping some of the country’s major urban cities, including the nation’s capital as well as New York, LA, Miami and more, in the overall ranking across all health indicators of the index.

Speaking to Newsweek, a spokesperson for Arlington County it is “excited to be named ‘America’s Fittest City’ for a record fifth consecutive year,” adding that “Arlington promotes access to resources and opportunities needed for improved health and well-being.”

This year the science-based index evaluated 100 of America’s largest cities based on 34 indicators, from health behaviors and chronic diseases to community infrastructure, that support a physically active lifestyle.

The index ultimately aims to educate community leaders as they shape policy, systems and environmental change strategies to promote the health and sustainability of their communities.

Speaking to Newsweek, Amanda Paluch, a member of the ACSM Fitness Index Advisory Board, said Arlington “absolutely” can be a model for the rest of the country in terms of building a community geared towards health.

“However, every city is unique so what works in Arlington may not work in another city. We encourage every community to find local solutions that work for their residents’ needs and interests,” she said.

What Makes Arlington America’s Fittest City?

The scores for the index’s 34 indicators were grouped into two sub-scores—personal health and community/environment. The index reports both the overall rank and score for each city evaluated as well as the ranks of the sub-scores, Paluch explained.

“This helps us see if a city is doing well in one area or the other. For example, a city with a low personal health sub-score, but high community/environment sub-score may need to focus more on getting residents to use the existing physical activity infrastructure,” Paluch explained.

In the latest rankings, Arlington came first in both the personal health and community/environment sub-scores, while it ranked in the top 10 cities for 19 of the 34 health indicators.

Below are the six health indicators for which Arlington ranked no. 1:

Percentage of population exercising in the previous month. Percentage of population in excellent or very good health. Percentage of population with poor physical health in the previous monthPercentage of population with high blood pressure. Percentage of population with stroke. Percentage of population with diabetes.

Paluch said up until 2018, the index assessed the 50 largest metros and Arlington was included as part of the Washington, D.C. metro ranking until then. But when the index was expanded to include the 100 largest cities in the country, “Arlington took the top spot and hasn’t been knocked off yet.”

See the scores across all 34 indicators for Arlington and the rest of the cities evaluated as well as full details on the index’s methodology at the ACSM website.

What Are the Healthiest Aspects of Arlington?

Paluch said: “Arlington residents live in a walkable and bikeable community with excellent access to parks, trails, and greenways. Combining the city’s physical activity infrastructure with high rates of good personal health behaviors like exercise, healthy eating, and not smoking leads to low rates of chronic disease, heart disease and diabetes.”

Walking and Biking

Paluch said “walkability and bikeability” are the healthiest aspects of life in Arlington.

“From walking kids to school to biking to work or to the grocery store, a pedestrian friendly city means people are active throughout the day, not just during planned exercise times,” she said.

Arlington’s parks and outdoor spaces are connected by more than 75 miles of multi-use trails, including nearly 49 miles that are paved.

In June 2022, Arlington County was named among the five “Walk Friendly Platinum Communities in the U.S.,” joining ranks of New York City, Seattle, Portland and San Francisco.

Nature and Outdoor Spaces

Sitting on the Potomac River, around five miles from Washington, D.C., Arlington is home to 1,100 acres of parks and open space, including over 150 parks. The spokesperson for Arlington County said: “99 percent of Arlington residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park.”

In 2020, Arlington’s park system was named among the top four in America’s 100 largest cities.

Residents can enjoy picnicking or boating at Gravelly Point Park or spectacular scenic views from the Potomac riverfront and George Washington Memorial Parkway.

More outdoor spaces can be explored in the capital nearby, such as Theodore Roosevelt Island, where you can enjoy miles of wooded uplands and swampy bottomlands that honor the legacy of 26th president, who was a great outdoorsman and conservationist.

Recreational Centers

The Arlington County spokesperson said “the county offers natural resources and affordable recreational programs and services for people of all ages, abilities, and interests,” including community centers, playgrounds and even a skate park.

Arlington is home to 13 community centers as well as plenty of outdoor activity venues, including at least 93 basketball courts, 92 tennis courts and 15 volleyball courts, according to the government website.

From as far back as 2002, Arlington was awarded the Environmental Protection Agency’s highest award for “Smart Growth,” which refers to the creation of “attractive communities” offering a range of housing and transportation options near jobs, shops, services and schools.

“We’ve been employing these strategies since long before the term was coined in the 1990s—beginning with planning the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, which is recognized as a pioneering model for smart growth success,” the Arlington government website explains.

The Rosslyn Metro station features one of the longest continuous escalators in the world, spanning 194 feet and eight inches, according to the government website.

Update 7/14/22, 5:22 a.m ET: This article was updated with comment from the Arlington County government.