It may be the hometown of LeBron James, the King of basketball.
But the humble city of Akron, Ohio, has still been ranked as the second-worst state in the country for physical activity levels, behind Hickory, North Carolina.
That is according to a new map by Gallup, which ranked 189 American cities by exercise rates – an attempt to shed light on lifestyle habits as the nation battles an obesity epidemic.
Overall, the report found exercise rates are their highest since Gallup started collecting results nine years ago.
However, researchers warn that figure obscures a severe issue of inactivity in some of America’s poorest regions, mainly Ohio, while richer cities in California and Colorado thrive.
Revealed: The top 10 and bottom 10 cities in the United States, according to exercise rates
The ranking looked at the proportion of people who get at least 90 minutes of exercise a week, by asking people in a survey: ‘In the last seven days, on how many days did you exercise for 30 or more minutes?’
In an accompanying study, the researchers highlighted the top 10 and the bottom 10.
They pointed to Ohio as one of the most troubled states for inactivity and obesity, with six communities in the bottom 25: Akron, Toledo, Cincinnati, Canton-Massillon, Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, and Cleveland-Elyria.
Hickory took the bottom spot (with just 41.8 percent of people exercising enough), while Iowa’s Cedar Rapids and Montgomery in Alabama were also labeled as danger zones where more than half of the population gets less than 90 minutes of movement a week.
LeBron James, pictured speaking in Akron in September 2014. The Cleveland Cavaliers star is a vocal champion for his hometown, which is significantly impoverished. Now, a new study shows the city has one of the lowest rates of exercise
Rounding out the bottom 10, the study name-checked Toledo, Ohio; Buffalo, New York; Spartanburg, South Carolina; Gulfport, Mississippi; Rockford, Illinois; and Roanoke, Virginia.
Unsurprisingly, the most active cities are confined to the West.
Boulder, Colorado, maintained its reputation as a hotspot for gym bunnies, with 70 percent of residents exercising more than 90 minutes a week. That was followed by Fort Collins, Colorado, and San Luis Obispo, California.
The top 10 included another Colorado city (Greeley), two more in California (Santa Rosa and Chico), and one in Hawaii (urban Honolulu).
Anchorage in Arkansas, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, and Clarksville in Tennessee completed the top 10.
The findings come on the heels of recent CDC, which figures showed almost a third of Americans over 50 never exercise.
It means a significant proportion of the older population are at risk of developing chronic disease or face an early death.
The data found 31 million people in that age group do nothing more than basic movements related to their daily routine.
Public health officials warn this lifestyle will simply fuel the nation’s burgeoning obesity crisis.
Writing in today’s report, the authors said cities need to take inspiration from active communities out west.
‘Innovative communities around the country are beginning to take an environmental approach to ensure their residents have safe and easy places to exercise,’ they said.
‘These communities are creating vibrant, livable, walkable, and bikeable public spaces and are investing in infrastructure that provides safe places to exercise and move naturally.
‘Champions for these community health projects often include the local hospital or health system, employers in the area, regional and local health plans, and community leaders and/or some combination thereof.’