Indianapolis among the nation's most unfit cities
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After years of hanging out in the bottom 10, Indianapolis has fallen into the bottom five of an annual ranking of America's fittest cities.
Why it matters: The results create a greater sense of urgency around coordinated community health efforts to improve Indy's parks and help residents live longer, which are still in the early stages.
Driving the news: Indianapolis ranked No. 97 overall in the latest fitness index from the Indy-based American College of Sports Medicine, down from No. 92 in 2024.
- Indy ranked No. 90 for personal health and No. 92 for community environment.
How it works: The report scores the 100 largest U.S. cities on factors including personal health behaviors, environmental factors, community infrastructure and chronic disease outcomes.
- Researchers found that the highest-ranking cities have significantly greater rates of biking, walking and public transit use, and that the gap between America's healthiest and least healthy cities is growing wider.
- Fort Wayne — the only other Hoosier city on the list — came in at No. 79, down from No. 77 in 2025.
Zoom in: Indianapolis was joined in the bottom five by Lubbock, Texas, Port St. Lucie, Florida, Memphis, Tennessee, and Oklahoma City.
- The report said all of these cities face challenges across several indicators, "including higher rates of chronic disease and lower rates of residents meeting physical activity guidelines."
By the numbers: About 32% of Indianapolis residents reported eating at least two fruits a day, and nearly 15% said they ate at least three vegetables.
- About 60% said they meet aerobic activity guidelines, but the city's walk and bike scores trailed the national average by double digits.
- Nearly 15% of Indianapolis respondents said they smoke, higher than the average of nearly 10%.
- Poor mental and physical health rates — including heart disease, stroke, asthma and obesity — are all higher than average.
Between the lines: The report also found that food insecurity and worsening local air quality are contributing to poor fitness scores.
What's next: The Marion County Public Health Department is creating a Community Health Improvement Plan, or CHIP, that will guide efforts to improve community health for the next several years.
- The CHIP will build on the findings of the latest community health assessment released in March, and public feedback to refine those findings.
- The top five concerns identified by residents through the health assessment are mental health/wellbeing, access to health care, housing, trauma/injury prevention and infant mortality.