What's Good
- Mayor Mick Cornett participates in more fitness-related events than most mayors.
- Read our exclusive interview with Mayor Cornett about his city-wide health and fitness initiatives.
- The local commute is much easier than in most cities - 66 percent less oppressive than average, leaving more 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 the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey, just 35 percent of adults here are overweight enough to increase their risk of weight-related health problems. That's the 10th best score of any city in our survey. Compare it to a national average of 58.06 percent.
- The number of heavy drinkers here is low: Oklahoma City has 33 percent less than average and the, lowest in our survey.
- Oklahoma is one of 28 states that participates in a CDC-sponsored program to reduce obesity and other chronic diseases.
- Oklahoma City locals use stair-climbing machines 26 percent more than average - the 3rd highest rate of any city in our survey.
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What Isn't
- According to the CDC, 28 percent of residents in Oklahoma City area are clinically obese. The national average is 23.17 percent.
- In a CDC survey, 28 percent of adults said they hadn't had any leisure time exercise in the past month. The average in our survey is 23 percent
- Oklahoma City residents received a bottom score in fruit and vegetable consumption, with only 33 percent eating the recommended five or more servings per day.
- Despite wide availability of local running and biking trails Oklahoma City residents are 30 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.
- Oklahoma City lost points in our Motivation category for poor participation rates in running, biking and walking despite high air quality.
- Basketball courts are practically nonexistent here, among the fewest per capita in our survey. There's just one court here for every 11,950 residents; the national average is one court per 7,260 people.
- Even recreational walking - about the easiest fitness activity anywhere - can't attract participants in Oklahoma City where people are 13 percent less likely than average to go for a walk, the 4th lowest rate of any city in our survey.
- Just 12 percent of Oklahoma City residents have a health club membership. That's 29 percent less than average, and the 4th lowest rate in our survey.
- Residents of Oklahoma City are 29 percent less likely than average to participate in spinning type cycling classes, the 4th lowest rate of any city in our survey.
- Just 8.4 percent of Oklahoma City residents exercise on stationary cycles. That's 35 percent less than average and the 3rd lowest rate in our survey.
- Residents of Oklahoma City are 85 percent less likely than average to go snowboarding - the 3rd lowest rate in our survey.
- Oklahoma City residents are 26 percent less likely to participate in fitness walking than average, the 2nd lowest overall participation rate among cities in our survey.
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