Arlington Tops 2026 Fitness Index as Cities Struggle with Food Insecurity and Air Quality

Arlington, VA leads the 2026 ACSM fitness index, with DC, Minneapolis, Seattle and Denver following; Oklahoma City is at the bottom. The report ties healthier personal and community environments to access to parks, trails, and transit, while food insecurity rises in nearly all large cities due to higher grocery prices and SNAP changes. Air quality and asthma influence outdoor activity, and cities like Richmond, Charlotte, Virginia Beach, and Durham posted notable gains as officials echo the idea that exercise is medicine.