What's Good
- According to the CDC, 21 percent of residents in Miami area are clinically obese. The national average is 23.17 percent.
- Miami residents received a top score in fruit and vegetable consumption, with 14 percent eating the recommended five or more servings per day.
- Miami's climate makes it relatively easy to get out and be active. In a comparison of sunny days, moderate temperatures and humidity, we ranked it 10th best of all cities.
- Binge drinking is less common here than most other places. In a national survey, only 13 percent of residents said they'd had five or more drinks at a sitting over the past 30 days. The average among cities in our survey is 14.74 percent.
- Health-food stores are plentiful in Miami: There's one for every 2,590 residents, handily beating the national average of 12,441.
- Florida is one of 28 states that participates in a CDC-sponsored program to reduce obesity and other chronic diseases.
- Our survey has found 128 percent more sporting-goods stores in Miami than average, a good indicator of an active populace.
- On a per capita basis, Miami has 115 percent more gyms and health clubs than average, the 2nd highest in our survey.
- Miami residents are 118 percent more likely than average to roller skate (the four-wheeled variety). That's the highest in our survey.
- Locals are 95 percent more likely than average to do aquatic exercise.
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What Isn't
- Florida state law limits or prohibits obesity-related lawsuits against food manufacturers and restaurants.
- Mayor Manuel A. Diaz participates in fewer fitness-related events than most mayors.
- The local commute is much more oppressive than in most cities - 57 percent more oppressive than average, leaving less time to exercise and prepare healthy meals. Commuter stress may also raise levels of cortisol, a hormone linked to weight gain and other health problems.
- According to Nielsen Media Research, TV viewers in the Miami market spend 14 percent more time in front of the tube than average among cities in our survey.
- It rains 131 days per year in Miami, discouraging outdoor exercise. That's the 6th highest number of rainy days in our survey.
- Miami's park acreage per capita is 733 percent lower than average and the 4th lowest in our survey. Research has found a connection between access to parks and green space and reduced obesity rates.
- Fast food, widely implicated as a contributor to obesity, is more common in Miami than most places in our survey. In a per capita comparison there are 132 percent more fast-food joints here than average.
- Miami residents participate in sports much less than average - 14 percent less than average, in fact.
- Despite wide availability of local running and biking trails Miami residents are 35 percent less likely than average to jog or cycle, a pattern that cost them points in our Motivation category. percent less likely than average to jog or cycle, a pattern that cost them points in our Motivation category.
- Miami is home to 115 percent more pizza places per capita than the average among cities in our survey.
- Golfers are limited to 1 public courses. Relative to population, that's less than almost anywhere else we surveyed.
- Ice cream shops are 174 percent more popular in Miami than average.
- Just 7 percent of Miami residents play golf. That's 32 percent less than average and the 4th lowest rate in our survey.
- Miami locals are 35 percent less likely than average to hit the stair-climbing machine for exercise - the 4th lowest rate of any city in our survey.
- Miami residents are 29 percent less likely than average to use an abdominal machine - the 4th lowest rate of any city in our survey.
- Almost nobody participates in high-impact aerobic dancing here; Miami has the 2nd lowest participation rate of any city in our survey. People here are 63 percent less likely than average to do it.
- Elliptical motion trainers are about 47 percent less popular than average in Miami, the 2nd lowest overall rate among cities in our survey.
- Just 2 percent of Miami residents have a home gym. That's 56 percent less than average, and the 2nd lowest rate in our survey.
- Miami residents are 60 percent less likely than average to use rowing machines. That's the 2nd lowest rate in our survey.
- Just 8 percent of Miami residents exercise with dumbbells. That's 36 percent less than average and the lowest rate in our survey.
- Miami has a very low number of fitness swimmers - 37 percent lower than average, the lowest overall participation rate among cities in our survey.
- Miami locals are 77 percent less than average to burn the calories on a ski machine - the lowest rate of any city in our survey.
- Miami residents are 80 percent less likely to play recreational baseball. That's the lowest participation rate in our survey.
- Miami residents are 66 percent less likely than average to go hiking. That's the lowest participation rate in our survey.
- Miami residents are 67 percent less likely than average to go day hiking. That's the lowest participation rate in our survey.
- Only about 2 percent of Miami residents do Pilates. That's the lowest rate in our survey.
- Residents of Miami are 83 percent less likely than average to use aerobic rider machines.
- Skateboarding is 63 percent less popular here than average - participation rates are the lowest percentage in our survey.
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