Studies Rank Utahns Among the Most Patriotic, and Most Healthy

Men's Health Magazine lists the most patriotic cities in American, in its July/August issue. Salt Lake City is listed in the number two spot, behind Portland, Ore.

Patriotic activities will be held all around Utah this week, celebrating America's Independence Day. Travelers are always welcome to participate in festivities.

And Utah is the eighth least obese state in the nation, according to a study reported in this Deseret News article.

Below are excerpts from this Salt Lake Trib article about the Men's Health patriotic rankings.

The magazine ranked 100 major cities in its July/August issue, which hits newsstands today. It factored in the percentage of registered voters who turned out for state and federal elections; money spent per capita on military veterans; the percentage of residents who volunteer and participate in civic activities; and sales of fireworks and U.S. flags.

Portland, Ore., ranked first. At No. 2, Salt Lake City was followed by Kansas City, Mo.; Seattle; Tampa, Fla.; Hartford, Conn.; Minneapolis; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Atlanta; and Madison, Wis.

For a complete list, visit www.menshealth.com/metrogrades.

Below are excerpts from this Deseret News article about healthy states.

According to the seventh annual F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2010 report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the state's adult obesity rate is 23.2 percent.

Nationally, more than two-thirds of states (38) have adult obesity rates above 25 percent.