How Healthy Is Providence for Men and Women?
Saturday, January 14, 2012
A new major ranking of America's healthiest cities has drawn lines down the gender divide. So just how healthy is Providence for men and for women? And how does it compare to the rest of the country's largest cities?
How they got the numbers
For the fourth year, Men's Health and Women's Health magazines sponsored a major statistical look at more than 30 factors that contribute to a city's healthiness: from obesity and breast cancer rates to commuting times and hours spent working out. One hundred of the largest cities in the US compete on these measures for bragging rights when it comes to being where the fittest, happiest women (or men) reside.
For women
This year, Providence hung in at #49 to stay in the top half of the healthiest spots for women. It lost by just one slot to #48 New York, but didn't fare so well compared to its sister New England major cities. Burlington, VT took a studly #5, followed by Portland, ME at #8, Boston, MA at #19, Manchester, NH at #24 and Bridgeport, CT at #35. Top honors in 2012 went to Raleigh, NC, followed by #2 San Jose, CA and #3 Madison, WI. Bringing up the rear was Birmingham, AL at #100.
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On the men's front similar health data points were used, but adapted to male health factors, including exercise, employment, and air quality, diabetes and depression, using sources from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the CDC, and the FBI. The news was not any better for Providence on the healthy male front: in fact, the Capital City dropped two points in the overall ranking to #51. For men, the top spots this year were Burlington, VT at #1, following by Madison, WI at #2, and Plano, TX at #3. San Jose, CA and Boise, ID rounded out the top 5.
Providence's #51 ranking was a poor showing compared to its New England competitors. Portland, ME took #14 and Manchester, NH came in at #17. Boston took #24 on the men's health scale, followed by Bridgeport, CT at #30.
For men nationally, though, the unhealthiest major city was Memphis, TN, at #100.
For all the women's health rankings, go here.
For all the men's health rankings, go here.
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