Exercise boosts Seattle to fittest U.S. city

Seattle is rated the fittest city in the United States in the February issue of Men's Fitness magazine, leaping past Honolulu, Colorado Springs, Colo., San Francisco and Denver.

Exercising faithfully and shunning fast food boosted Seattle from No. 6 last year, Editor in Chief Neal Boulton said.

"Eighty-five percent of Seattle residents get some exercise every month, and that's a really significant thing," Boulton said.

The city's jittery love affair with coffee might fuel some of that activity, he noted: "There's not only a lot of it, it's pretty darn strong."

In the magazine's seventh annual Fattest and Fittest Cities Report, 50 cities are rated on 14 factors, including fast-food restaurants per capita, TV watching, air quality and parks. Seattle, for example, has more sporting-goods stores and gyms than fast-food joints.

Houston was named the fattest city for the fourth time in five years.

The fittest ... 1. Seattle 2. Honolulu 3. Colorado Springs, Colo. 4. San Francisco 5. Denver 6. Portland 7. Sacramento, Calif. 8. Tucson, Ariz. 9. San Diego 10. Albuquerque, N.M. 11. Boston 12. Virginia Beach, Va. 13. Minneapolis 14. Fresno, Calif. 15. Milwaukee ... and fattest 1. Houston 2. Philadelphia 3. Detroit 4. Memphis, Tenn. 5. Chicago 6. Dallas 7. New Orleans 8. New York 9. Las Vegas 10. San Antonio 11. El Paso, Texas 12. Phoenix 13. Indianapolis 14. Fort Worth, Texas 15. Mesa, Ariz. Source: Men's Fitness magazine

Nickels said he made a New Year's resolution to get in better shape by walking with his wife and working out at a gym.

"It's pretty hard to go more than a few blocks without seeing a gym," he said.

Seattle's claim to the fitness crown makes sense to Doug Sherry and his wheaten terrier, Bing, who walk the three-mile path around Green Lake every day, rain or shine.

"Everyone I know does something," said Sherry, 35. "There's lots of good terrain to walk and bike and hike. You're close to the water; you're close to the mountains."