Hartford Ranks High Among Country’s Healthiest Cities

Hartford often gets a bad rap for crime, poverty and the quality of its education, but it recently received high praise for its level of health and fitness. Among the nation’s 50 fittest largest metropolitan areas, the Hartford area recently was ranked 5th. Only the San Francisco, Calif. Boston, Mass., Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis, Minn. areas ranked higher.

The ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) of American Fitness Index (AFI) measured the health and community fitness status of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The AFI assessed each Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) for chronic disease conditions—like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular—as well as preventative health behaviors, like exercise, diet and smoking. It also rated access to healthcare, in addition to policies and community resources supporting physical activity. Recreational facilities, like dog parks and golf courses, and the number of farmers’ markets were included.

Read more to see how Hartford fared.

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