According to this article in USA Today, Men’s Fitness has named Miami the fattest city in America.
Awesome.
Now, one must always take magazine and news media rankings with a grain of salt. The metrics used can vary wildly and often allow one to paint a city any number of desired shades. As an example, the Brookings Institute issued a report last year that ranked Miami as the eighth most walkable city in America–two spots ahead of New York City. That is clearly ridiculous. Moreover, “Miami” typically doesn’t mean Miami proper, but the larger metropolitan area.
Yet, while the tanned and toned tend to roam South Beach, Men’s Fitness is on to something here with the greater Miami area. The USA Today article says the “Magic City” garners this most dubious distinction for several known factors.
Miami received poor marks because of a large number of overweight people, a high rate of TV viewing among residents, long commutes and poor air quality**. The city has almost three times as many fast-food restaurants as the average city. And participation is low in outdoor activities such as biking, running and fitness walking.
The newspaper interviewed Claudia Gonzalez, a registered dietitian in Miami, who said Miamians don’t walk because of all the highways.
“If you walk in some areas, people look at you like you are strange — like, ‘Why are you walking when everyone else is driving?’ ” Exceptions include Miami Beach, Coconut Grove and South Beach, she says.
Hey, maybe we need more transit, walkable and bicycle-friendly infrastructure?
Just a wacky Wednesday morning thought…
**Didn’t Forbes rank us as having the best air quality last year, i.e. the cleanest city?!
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I think they meant to say Miami is the ‘PHATTEST’ city because everyone knows that Miami is the coolest frickin place on earth!
Um, yes. I am sure that is what they meant.
Im pretty sure they meant “FAAAAATTT” city hahaha how sad.
I hate to agree but its true, and its funny, i did not know about this ranking before, I just Google. “most men fat in Miami” and i came across this. Go figure