About the ACSM American Fitness Index

In 2008, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) launched the ACSM American Fitness Index (Fitness Index), in partnership with the  Elevance Health Foundation. The Fitness Index ranks America’s 100 largest cities on a composite of health behaviors, health outcomes, community infrastructure, and local policies that support a physically active lifestyle. With the help of the Fitness Index, local officials, community groups, health organizations, and individual citizens can assess factors contributing to their city’s fitness, health, and quality of life.

The Fitness Index offers tailored guidance to local officials and community leaders that are ready to make their city one of the healthiest cities in America. This assistance focuses on strategies and policies with the best evidence for improving health, increasing physical activity, and that does the most good for the most residents – with a priority on under-served populations.

The Fitness Index is honored to have assisted city officials in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Miami, and Oklahoma City with:

  • understanding their city’s Fitness Index rankings,
  • identifying actionable areas for improvement, and
  • focusing on the highest local priorities.

ADVISORY BOARD

The ACSM American Fitness Index Advisory Board is a standing board separate from the ACSM Board of Trustees. The Advisory Board is committed to a strong link and communications with the ACSM Board of Trustees, membership, and existing strategic initiatives.

Chair: Stella Volpe, Ph.D., RDN, ACSM-CEP, FACSM, Virginia Tech University
Vice Chair: Jammie Hopkins, Dr.PH., Morehouse School of Medicine
Carlos Crespo, Dr.PH., FACSM, Portland State University
Andrea Duran, Ph.D., Columbia University
Jessie Fudge, M.D., FACSM, Kaiser Permanente
David Garcia, Ph.D., FACSM, University of Arizona
Alvin Morton, III, Ph.D., Merrimack College
Amanda Paluch, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst
Melissa Roti, Ph.D., FACSM, Westfield State University
Allison Schroeder, M.D., Mayo Clinic
John Sirard, Ph.D., FACSM, University of Massachusetts
Jeff Whitfield, Ph.D., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Janet Wojcik, Ph.D., FACSM, Winthrop University

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