San Francisco tops list of fittest U.S. cities

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters Life!) - San Francisco is famous for its steep hills and fresh food, so it may come as no surprise that it wins the honor as the fittest city in the United States, according to a new report.

San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area narrowly edged out Seattle in the first American Fitness Index released this week by the American College of Sports Medicine and the WellPoint Foundation.

Nearly 32 percent of San Franciscans eat five or more fruits and vegetables per day, the study showed. Residents are more likely to have health insurance, less likely to have chronic health problems and less likely to smoke.

The Bay Area also scored well for parks and athletic facilities and had an above-average number of commuters who bike, walk or use public transportation.

Researchers from Indiana University School of Family Medicine analyzed data from the U.S. Census, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and other information to compile the report.

"This report issues a call to action to improve the overall health, fitness and quality of life in the United States," Walt Thompson, the chair of the AFI Advisory Board, said in a statement.

Rounding out the five fittest cities of the 16 most populated metropolitan cities were Boston, followed by Washington D.C. and Atlanta.

Cities that rely heavily on the automobile, like Houston and Los Angeles, fared poorly in the fitness ranking.

But it was the Motor City, Detroit, that rolled into last place.

(Writing by Mary Milliken, Editing by Alexandria Sage and Patricia Reaney)