San Diego is flexing its health muscles as one of the top-tier healthy hotspots in the nation. In the fresh-from-the-press report by WalletHub, San Diego bagged the fourth spot on the list, showing off its commitment to keeping its residents hale and hearty.
The study served up a granular look at over 180 populated urban jungles, weighing up critical health markers – think medical costs, fruit munching habits, muscle-flexing exercise routines, and the abundance of green oases. "Staying healthy is a personal responsibility, and everyone should strive to eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and look after their mental health," stated WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe, according to a report by Patch. Yet she noted that location can be a make-or-break factor in maintaining that tip-top condition.
Diving into specifics, America's Finest City outpaced the pack with its hiking trails and nutritious eateries, clinching first place for its trails and ninth for healthy restaurants per capita. Notably, it managed a 15th place finish in the share of physically active adults, a clear sign that San Diegans are no couch potatoes. Despite the impressive rankings, it's not all sunshine and smoothies; the city landed at a middling 36th for mental health and took a tumble down to 95th for dietitians and nutritionists per capita, as reported by Patch.
Neighboring cities Oceanside and Chula Vista also snagged spots on WalletHub's health-conscious catalogue. Oceanside showed up at 45th overall, with a laudable rank for its share of active residents but, scored a less stellar 108th in hiking trails per capita. Chula Vista crept in at 93rd, with a halfway decent performance in mental health but, its residents may have to journey farther for a wholesome bite, as it ranked 167th in healthy restaurants per capita, detailed in the data from WalletHub.
While San Diego shines on this healthy pedestal, San Francisco snagged the crown for the healthiest city across the States, followed by the picturesque retreat of Honolulu and the ever-bustling Seattle. Spare a thought for Brownsville, Texas though, which found itself at the less-enviable end of this spectrum. Nonetheless, the West Coast's strong showing suggests a culture swiftly pedaling toward well-being, one fresh bowl and hiking trail at a time.
