While exercise rates improved, air quality and food security remain concerns in many US cities.

WASHINGTON — When it comes to staying active, more Americans are stepping up. But not everything is trending in the right direction.

The American College of Sports Medicine just released its 2025 Fitness Index, ranking the 100 largest U.S. cities based on how healthy and active their residents are. All 100 cities were measured on factors like access to parks, recreation facilities, bike lanes and public spaces, as well as personal health data including smoking rates, mental health, physical activity and diet.

The review found that more people are exercising regularly and cities are investing more in parks, but it also flagged concerns around air quality and food insecurity.

Overall, the data showed progress, with 94 cities reporting higher levels of aerobic activity, and 89 showing an uptick in residents meeting both aerobic and strength training guidelines. Smoking declined in 73 cities, and two-thirds of cities boosted their per-person parks funding.

But the report also pointed out areas getting worse. Air quality declined in many cities, partially due to wildfire smoke, and food insecurity rose in nearly every city, possibly tied to the end of COVID-era support programs like the expanded Child Tax Credit.

As for the rankings, Arlington, Virginia, was named the nation’s fittest city for the eighth year in a row, followed by Washington, D.C., Seattle, Washington, San Francisco, California and Denver, Colorado.

Want to see where your city landed? Here’s a look at the top 50 fittest cities in America for 2025:

 Arlington, VA Washington, D.C. Seattle, WA San Francisco, CA Denver, CO Minneapolis, MN Madison, WI Atlanta, GA Sacramento, CASan Diego, CAChicago, ILIrvine, CABoston, MAPlano, TXSan Jose, CALincoln, NEBoise, IDSt. Paul, MNOakland, CAPittsburgh, PAAustin, TXChula Vista, CAPortland, ORBuffalo, NYAlbuquerque, NMSpokane, WAAurora, COJersey City, NJNewark, NJHonolulu, HINorfolk, VAOmaha, NENew York, NYSt. Petersburg, FLCincinnati, OHCleveland, OHColorado Springs, COFremont, CAMiami, FLRichmond, VATampa, FLLong Beach, CAAnchorage, AKRaleigh, NCOrlando, FLDallas, TXMilwaukee, WIScottsdale, AZHouston, TXSanta Ana, CAColumbus, OHLexington, KYPhiladelphia, PAReno, NVWinston-Salem, NCGlendale, AZAnaheim, CAChandler, AZMesa, AZTucson, AZCharlotte, NCNew Orleans, LAPhoenix, AZRiverside, CALos Angeles, CADurham, NCBaltimore, MDJacksonville, FLFresno, CALaredo, TXNashville, TNSt. Louis, MOStockton, CAGilbert, AZGarland, TXChesapeake, VAFort Wayne, INToledo, OHVirginia Beach, VAFort Worth, TXHenderson, NVKansas City, MOArlington, TXIrving, TXEl Paso, TXCorpus Christi, TXLas Vegas, NVLouisville, KYGreensboro, NCTulsa, OKBakersfield, CAIndianapolis, INPort St. Lucie, FLSan Antonio, TXDetroit, MIWichita, KSMemphis, TNNorth Las Vegas, NVLubbock, TXOklahoma City, OK