Skip to content
  • X

Subscribe

Magazine | Newsletters
  • Food & Drink
  • News
  • Culture
  • Style
  • Home
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Things to Do
  • Travel
  • Best of NoVA
  • Best Restaurants
  • Most Influential
  • Top High Schools
  • In This Issue
  • Home
    • Fitness
  • Arlington named fittest city in the nation
feet running on pavement
  • Fitness

Arlington named fittest city in the nation

The results from the annual ACSM American Fitness Index places Arlington at the top of 100 cities for the third year in a row.

By Holly Gambrell July 15, 2020 at 3:38 pm

Arlington can once again claim it is “America’s Fittest City”—for the third year in a row! The results of American College of Sports Medicine and Anthem Foundation’s annual ACSM American Fitness Index was released on July 14, and showed that Arlington topped the list of the 100 fittest localities in the nation.

Washington, DC also made the top 10, coming in at No. 6. The District and Arlington were the only localities in the DC metro area to be named in the list of 100 American cities. 

Indicators used to conclude the results include access to athletic facilities and parks, biker/pedestrian infrastructure, average frequency of exercise among residents, eating habits and prevalence of chronic health conditions.  

“Arlington’s balance of healthy behaviors and community infrastructure earned it the No. 1 overall rank,” a recent press release stated. “Arlington ranked in the top 10 cities for 19 of the 33 indicators in the ACSM/Anthem Fitness Index. Two indicators ranked No. 1, including lowest rate of adults with obesity and highest rate of residents meeting aerobic and strength activity guidelines. Arlington has earned the fittest city title three consecutive years.”

See the full report at americanfitnessindex.org.

For more health and wellness news, subscribe to our weekly Health newsletter.

Trending in NoVA

7 Virginia Universities Ranked World Best in 2026-2027 List

These New Virginia Laws Go Into Effect July 1, 2026

Head to One of these Trendy Northern Virginia Listening Bars

14 Longtime Restaurants in Northern Virginia and DC That Closed in 2026

22 Fourth of July Fireworks Shows Set to Light Up the Night Sky in Northern Virginia

things to do newsletter

Our Top Stories In Your Inbox

Our newsletters delivered weekly.

Subscribe

Feeds

RSS Feed Follow in Feedly

You May Also Like

People watching and climbing at Sportrock Climbing Center

Best of NoVA 2026: Get Your Blood Pumping at These Top Fitness Studios, Classes, and Gyms

  • X

Company

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Writer’s Guidelines
  • Internships
  • Terms of Use

Magazine

  • Magazine
  • Subscription
  • Newsletter
  • Back Issues

Talk to Us

  • Contact Us
  • Submit an Event
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Shopping

  • Subscription
  • Back Issues
  • Plaques
  • Realtor Client Gift Subscriptions

On Newsstands Now

NoVA 250 - July 2026 cover image

Copyright © 2026 Northern Virginia Magazine

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Hey AI.