Burlington, VT Named #1 On SELF Magazine’s 10th Annual Survey America’s Healthiest Places for Women
New York, NY – October 20, 2009 – SELF, the national womens well-being magazine with a readership of 6.1 million, announces Burlington, Vermont as the nations healthiest city in its 10th annual Healthiest Places for Women survey (November 2009 issue). Analyzing 100 U.S. metropolitan areas, this examination is the most comprehensive of its kind. Using a broad scope of research criteria, SELF evaluated more than 8,000 bits of data to determine each citys level of healthy living.
SELF polled a panel of experts to find out which factors most affect a womans ability to live her healthiest. Then compiled a list of 50 criteria, including rates of diseases such as cancer and depression; health care factors such as: the number of doctors per capita and the percentage of population with health insurance; environmental and community measures such as: air quality, crime rates and unemployment statistics; and habits such as exercise, diet and smoking.
SELF Magazines Healthiest Places for Women began 10 years ago to inspire women to get more active in their communities. We believe that little tweaks in your normal routine can make a big difference, says Sara Austin, news features director. Regardless of where your city ranks on the list, SELF and Self.coms experts can provide simple tools to assist you with fitness, health, nutrition and your overall sense of wellbeing.
Burlington beat out the 2008 winner, Bethesda, MDnow holding 2nd placebecause of the citys low rates of diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, smoking, cervical and ovarian cancer deaths. Residents maintain a fit lifestyle by walking to work and frequently exercising. The city also offers 40% more ob/gyns than the lists average. Additionally, there are six times as many food co-ops in Burlington, with farmers markets now taking food stamps to increase the opportunity to eat right.
Each year, SELF adds new criteria to the study to address climatic and behavioral changes. In 2009, quality of sleep is a new category. Women often underestimate how much skipping out on sleep can damage our health, Austin states. In the worst sleeping area, Charleston, WV, the average woman has insomnia three or four nights per week. A unique sidebar on each page gives get-fit tips from a woman living in an unhealthy city, emphasizing SELFs message that women can be healthy anywhere.
Top five Best Places for Women (2009):
1. Burlington, VT
2. Bethesda, MD
3. Portland, ME
4. Cambridge, MA
5. San Francisco, CA
Unhealthiest Places for Women (2009):
1. Tulsa, OK
2. Detroit, MI
3. Oklahoma City, OK
4. Indianapolis, IN
5. Toledo, OH
After many years at the bottom of the list, Detroit, MI has moved up a slot, replaced by Tulsa, OK. Other cities with areas to improve include Miami, FL (exercises least); Daytona Beach, FL (most diabetes); Los Angeles, CA (dirtiest air); Philadelphia, PA (dirtiest water); Memphis, TN (most STDs); Anchorage, AK (most violent crime) and Jacksonville, FL (most smoking and drinking).
Additional results in SELFs new rankings:
Exercises most: Madison, WI
Fewest health clubs: El Paso, TX
Most fast food outlets: Nassau-Suffolk counties, NY
Cleanest water: Raleigh, NC
Most allergies and asthma: San Francisco, CA
Most toxic sites: Riverside, CA
Least unemployment: Billings, MT
Most unemployment: Detroit, MI
Longest commute: New York, NY
Fewest STDs: Rockingham County, NH
Fewest Pap smears: Las Vegas, NV
The November issue of SELF magazine hits newsstands on October 20, 2009. Log on to Self.com for the complete list, feedback from women in the bottom-ranked cities, tips to live like a local and further details about each city.
SELF consulted the following sources for the feature: American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Claritas (demographic information firm), Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, National Center for Health Statistics, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Green Building Council.{enclose sara_austin.mp4}
