Tampa Bay area ranks 40 out of 50 in annual list of the fittest cities

A new study of the top 50 metropolitan areas in the country has the Tampa/St.Petersburg/Clearwater region showing up near the back of the pack in 40th place, according to the American College of Sport Medicine's (ACSM) American Fitness Index™ (AFI).

The sixth annual report evaluates preventive health behaviors, levels of chronic disease conditions, health care access, and community resources and policies that encourage healthy and fit lifestyles.

Topping the list is Minneapolis, followed by Washington D.C., Portland, San Francisco and Denver.

The Tampa Bay area's total score of 40 out of 100 is actually worse off than a year ago, when the region was ranked 36 out of the top 50 metropolitan areas.

This article appears in May 23-29, 2013.