I live in New York City, and I'm living proof you can be healthy anywhere, even in the middle of a bustling metropolis. Every year for the past 10 years, SELF has ranked the healthiest places for women to live (see how your city ranked). And this year, my hometown didn't break the top 10. Of course, it's easy to envy women in stunningly scenic areas like lakeside Burlington, Vermont, our top-ranked town (see below for the top 5 list). But the happy truth SELF's health editors found is that no matter where you live, you can be your absolute best. To prove it, we talked to super healthy, fit and happy women across the nation—even in those towns that landed at the very bottom of our rankings. Take their tips to overcome any challenge your hometown throws your way.
Be happy where the weather is a bummer
The place women exercise the most isn't a sunny paradise such as Honolulu—it's Midwestern Madison, Wisconsin. Eighty-five percent of women here get regular exercise, in part because many women combine their workout and their daily commute. Sun or snow, women here are twice as likely to walk to work, compared with our list average, and are 250 percent more likely to go to work on a bike.
In chilly Fargo, North Dakota, women stay connected and energized via running clubs. In its first five years, the Fargo Marathon has grown from 2,400 to 13,000 participants. It runs in May, and residents say they like having a concrete goal to get them through the long, cold winter. Start or join a running club in your area at Self.com.
Eat well where fast food reigns
Tulsa, Oklahoma, came in last on our list, with many residents choosing fast food over farmers' markets. Nevertheless, nutrition-savvy ladies here band together to form online healthy-eating groups, share recipes and plan potluck suppers. Find like minds at MeetUp.com or the SELF Dinner Club.
Make like Burlington residents and visit a local farm for fresh produce. (PickYourOwn.org can help you locate one.) Eat what's in season spring, summer and fall, then load up on cancer-fighting greens and berries to freeze for the winter.
Try these tips on finding the freshest produce at the farmers' market.
Find care where doctors are scarce
Cambridge, Massachusetts, ranked high on our list due to its culture of wellness; the city offers many health-promotion programs, and residents take advantage of them. Wherever you live, community health centers offer free programs for weight loss, diabetes control and more. Visit FindAHealthCenter.HRSA.gov.
In contrast to Cambridge, 93rd-ranked El Paso, Texas, has a scarcity of doctors and health insurance. But women here say they've improved their care simply by asking: Insurers will sometimes reimburse up to 80 percent of the cost of a nutritionist, midwife or other non-M.D. if the practitioner writes the company a letter. (Meanwhile, if you are uninsured, get help at CovertheUninsured.org.)
See how the health-care debate affects you.
Keep healthy where the economy is suffering
Detroit's economy is struggling, but residents are still helping their health on the cheap. Some have joined food co-ops to support local farmers and spend less at the grocery store. Others have traded their TV remote for a library card: Not only is cable expensive, but studies also link the tube to weight gain and depression.
To save tons and help the trees, follow the lead of the most eco-friendly area on our list, Portland, Maine. Residents here endorse "energy audits" to determine low-cost ways to tighten up homes, such as insulating a basement. EnergySavers.gov has advice on getting started.
Get moving in a couch potato community
Oklahoma City ranked as one of the least-fit areas, yet determined women still find ways to work up a sweat. OKC fitness buffs recommend joining a sports team so you have support to stick with exercise. Or engage in a physical activity that helps a cause you feel passionately about, such as the annual race marking the Oklahoma City bombing.
Residents of healthy Stamford, Connecticut, raved about its parks and beaches. Every community has public spaces to enjoy, but it's up to you to use and preserve them. Search for outdoor events near you at NWF.org/naturefind.
And the top 5 Healthiest Places for Women are:
1) Burlington, VT
2) Bethesda, MD
3) Portland, ME
4) Cambridge, MA
5) San Francisco, CA
Visit our map of all 100 cities to see how your hometown ranked.
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