America's fattest cities 2002 - 4th Annual Report

Men's Fitness, Feb, 2002 by Keith Griffiths

Happily, this is one crisis where small steps can yield big rewards almost immediately. Don't want to turn off CNN? Switch to unbuttered popcorn while you watch, do some stretches during the commercial breaks or take a 20-minute stroll before hunkering down in your La-Z-Boy. After that? Turn to the "Comeback Workout" on page 110 or the MEN'S FITNESS Fat-Loss Handbook on page 80. The more you do, the better you'll feel; and the more you can do, the more you'll want to do.

It's an uphill road, America. Let's start climbing.

1 HOUSTON

THE REAL FAT TEXAS

REPORT CARD

Healthy habits:           C-
Fat factors:              D 
Deadly sins:              D 
Air and water:            D-
Natural environment:      D
Urban attributes:         C-

Is Energy Alley paved with deep-fried turkey and baby back ribs? Last year, Houston grabbed the Fattest City title from Philadelphia and has yet to loosen its grip. "Texans are proud, and we took [the 2001 ranking] hard," says parks-and-recreation rep Mindy O'Bannon. But with most of the city's fitness initiatives not slated to start until this year, it's no surprise that this Harris County heavyweight kept the championship belt (size XXL).

Houston has average scores in most categories, but it gets clobbered by high TV viewership and low exercise and sports participation--the exact opposite of Fittest City Colorado Springs. There's not much that individuals can do about the poor air quality and even less about the problematic geography, but they can turn off the tube and get out to their parks, which offer a variety of free programs for kids and adults. (There's more where that came from: In the works is a 15-year, $700 million project to upgrade and expand the park system.)

On the plus side, Houston was the only U.S. city to participate in an international challenge last May promoting "healthy recreation." An impressive 133,014 residents logged in to record their efforts. That bodes well for this year's efforts.

STUFF THE FIT-MINDED CAN DO:

Memorial Park is the one spot everyone who is fit at heart must experience, says Shadston Pittman, fitness coordinator at the parks and recreation department. It's located in downtown Houston, but the abundant greenery makes you think you're in the country. "Even on the most hot and humid days, you'll find the place full of people running and playing," Pittman says. You can check out introductory kickboxing lessons or join the "salsa aerobics" class; the department's Web site (www.houstonparks.org) has class times and locations. For the avid bicyclist, the Alkek Velodrome in Cullen Park provides a chance to sample a professional track. Ever tried disc golf? Ever heard of it? It's big in Houston, with 18 courses in the area. It follows the rules of golf, but you throw a disc rather than swing at a ball. (Hey, your heart doesn't care what you look like when you exercise.) The Wilmont at Tom Bass Regional Park is a "championship-caliber course" that hosts the Texas State Disc Golf Championships.