SELF magazine, announces Burlington, VT as the nation’s healthiest city in the 10th annual Healthiest Places For Women survey (November 2009 Issue). Analyzing the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, SELF’s examination is the most comprehensive of its kind. Distinguished for its broad scope of research criteria, over 8,000 bits of data were evaluated to determine each city’s level of healthy living.
SELF polled a panel of experts to find out which factors most affect a woman’s ability to live her healthiest. Then a list was compiled of 50 criteria, including rates of diseases such as cancer and depression; factors that affect access to health care: the number of doctors per capita and the percentage of each area’s population covered by insurance; environmental and community measures: air quality, crime rates and unemployment statistics; and habits such as exercise, diet and smoking.
“SELF Magazine’s Healthiest Places for Women began 10 years ago to inspire women to get more active in their communities. We believe that little tweaks in your normal routine make a big difference,” states Sara Austin, News Features Director. “Regardless of where your city ranks on the list, there are simple tools SELF and Self.com’s experts provide to assist every woman with fitness, health, nutrition and an overall sense of wellbeing.”
Burlington, VT beat out the 2008 winner, Bethesda, MD—now holding 2nd place—due to the city’s low rates of diabetes, cholesterol, smoking, cervical and ovarian cancer deaths and hypertension. Residents maintain a fit lifestyle by walking to work and frequent exercise regimes. The city also offers 40% more ob/gyns than the list’s average. Additionally, there are six times as many food co-ops in Burlington, with most farmers’ markets now taking food stamps to increase the ability to eat right.
Each year, new criteria are added to the study in response to climate and behavioral changes. In 2009, SELF added “Quality of Sleep” as a new category. “Women often underestimate how much skipping out on sleep can damage our health,” states Austin. In the worst sleeping area, Charleston, WV, the average woman has insomnia 3 to 4 nights per week. Additionally, a unique sidebar was added to each page with get fit tips from women living in the unhealthiest ranked cities, emphasizing SELF’s message that women can be healthy anywhere.
2009 top five Best Places for Women, according to SELF Magazine and Self.com:
1. Burlington, VT
2. Bethesda, MD
3. Portland, ME
4. Cambridge, MA
5. San Francisco, CA
2009 Unhealthiest Places for Women, according to SELF Magazine and Self.com:
1. Tulsa, OK
2. Detroit, MI
3. Oklahoma City, OK
4. Indianapolis, IN
5. Toledo, OH
After many years at the bottom of the list, Detroit, MI has moved up a slot being replaced by Tulsa, OK at #100. Other cities with areas to watch out for include: Miami, FL (Exercises Least), Daytona Beach, FL (Most Diabetes), Los Angeles, CA (Dirtiest Air), Philadelphia, PA (Dirtiest Water), Memphis, TN (Most STDs), Anchorage, AK (Most Violent Crime), and Jacksonville, FL (Most Smoking and Drinking).
Additional results in SELF’s new rankings:
· Exercises most: Madison, WI
· Fewest health clubs: El Paso, TX
· Most fast food outlets: Nassau-Suffolk counties, NY
· Cleanest water: Raleigh, NC
· Most allergies and asthma: San Francisco, CA
· Most toxic sites: Riverside, CA
· Least unemployment: Billings, MT
· Most unemployment: Detroit, MI
· Longest commute: New York, NY
· Fewest STDs: Rockingham County, NH
· Fewest Pap smears: Las Vegas, NV
The November issue of SELF magazine will be on newsstands October 20, 2009. Log on to Self.com for the complete list, feedback from women in the bottom-ranked cities, tips to live like a local and further details about each city.
SELF consulted the following sources for the feature including: American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Claritas (demographic information firm), Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, National Center for Health Statistics, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Green Building Council.
