Description of Sacramento’s ranking on the State of American Well-Being, 2016 Community Rankings for Healthy Eating.
Sacramento ranked #76 out of 189 communities on the State of American Well-Being, 2016 Community Rankings for Healthy Eating. The rankings were based on the question: “Did you eat healthy all day (the previous day)?”
The study was published in May 2017. Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, Florida ranked #1 in the Gallup-Sharecare study at 75.3%. Coming in last place, Lubbock, Texas had a score of 53.8%.
In 2016, many of the top healthy eating communities are located in California, and ten California communities are in the top 25. The lowest rates of healthy eating come from states such as Ohio, Texas, Kansas, and Louisiana.
SacramentoRevealed.com – All Things Sacramento (from a personal perspective)
California Community Rankings for Healthy Eating:
Highest Quintile (75.3%-66.9%)
- #3 – Santa Cruz-Watsonville – 74.2%
- #4 – Salinas – 72.9%
- #6 – Santa Rosa – 72.4%
- #8 – San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande – 72.0%
- #17 – Santa Maria-Santa Barbara – 69.4%
- #18 – San Diego-Carlsbad – 69.4%
- #19 – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward – 69.3%
- #20 – San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara – 69.2%
- #23 – Vallejo-Fairfield – 68.5%
- #24 – Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Venture – 68.5%
- #27 – Visalia-Porterville – 68.3%
- #29 – Fresno – 68.2%
- #30 – Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim – 68.0
2nd Quintile (66.7%-64.1%)
- #39 – Modesto – 66.7%
- #40 – Stockton-Lodi – 66.7%
- #57 – Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario – 65.2%
- #58 – Bakersfield – 65.1%
- #76 – Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade – 64.1
5th Quintile (59.9%-53.8%)
- #157 – Chico – 59.6%
Do these rankings surprise you? I am not surprised that so many communities in California rank in the 1st Quintile – but I have to admit I would have thought that Sacramento would have ranked higher. We have numerous farmers markets, the state does not have a sales tax on food, we have community gardens, many schools have school gardens, etc. What else should we be doing to improve our ranking?
And what is going on with Chico? Hopefully the Chico community will take note and determine a course of action.
The reason studies like this are important is because there is a relationship between eating and various chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, depression, and stress. Utilizing the data can spur communities to take an active approach to implement food policies that foster healthy eating.
That said – on a personal level I try to eat healthy but let’s face it – I don’t do so every meal, every day. For example, if I have earlier in the day had a healthy breakfast and lunch I am more likely to rationalize, when I am out dining at a restaurant, having a somewhat less than healthy (but delicious) dinner.
How would I answer the question: “Did you eat healthy all day (the previous day)?” It depends. I have, however, decided to have a salad for dinner tonight.
See related blog post: Where Does Sacramento Rank?
Comments?
What do you think Sacramento should do to improve its ranking?
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