A pair California cities earned prime spots within the new rating of America’s fittest cities.
The 2026 American School of Sports activities Medication (ACSM) and the Elevance Well being Basis report ranked San Francisco and Irvine amongst its prime 10 healthiest cities within the US.
The report, which appeared on the nation’s 100 largest cities, put San Francisco within the No. 6 spot and Irvine at No. 7 — with the Southern California enclave leaping again into the highest 10 this 12 months after falling to quantity 12 in 2025.
The 2 Golden State cities lagged solely behind Arlington,Virginia, Washington DC, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Denver.
Arlington claimed the crown for the ninth consecutive 12 months, with Atlanta, Madison, Wisc., and Boston rounding out the highest 10.
The general rankings are based mostly on broad entry to parks and recreation, bodily exercise charges and insurance policies that assist energetic life, amongst different elements.
“The place you reside more and more determines how wholesome you’re,” mentioned Stella Volpe, previous president of the ACSM and chair of the Health Index Advisory Board.
“The healthiest cities don’t simply encourage train — they make motion a part of day by day life by means of infrastructure, transportation and neighborhood design.”
The highest 10 cities reported “considerably decrease weight problems charges than lower-ranked cities — usually by greater than 10 share factors,” based on the rating. The cities additionally had increased charges of strolling, biking and use of public transportation.
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“The cities that constantly rank on the prime aren’t succeeding due to one program or one funding. They’ve constructed techniques that assist more healthy dwelling over time,” Volpe mentioned.
“They’re those creating environments the place bodily exercise can simply grow to be part of on a regular basis routines.”
Cities rating low within the report had increased charges of diabetes, weight problems, and heart problems.
A complete of 35 indicators had been used for every metropolis, evaluating issues like folks’s well being, environmental circumstances and neighborhood infrastructure.
Environmental considerations positioned a number of Southern California locales within the rating for cities with the fewest good air high quality days. They included Lengthy Seaside, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and Chula Vista.
“In cities with fewer days of excellent air high quality, residents, notably these with bronchial asthma and different respiratory circumstances, face extra boundaries to out of doors bodily exercise,” the report mentioned.
Shantanu Agrawal, MD, Chief Well being Officer at Elevance Well being, mentioned its health index provides communities important data wanted to indicate the place enhancements could be made to enhance the general well being of town.
“Our longstanding assist of the Health Index and the insights it gives for communities displays our dedication to bettering entire well being nationwide,” Agrawal mentioned.
