Which city is healthier and more athletic, Seattle, WA or Vancouver, BC? And why? (neighbourhoods)

[ddomenike]

Both seem to be very healthy and fit.

[BIMBAM]

Not an easy answer, but I'll use some statistics.


"King County, Washington, which includes the city of Seattle, is tackling obesity and tobacco use throughout the community. The combined percentage of overweight and obese adults in the county has increased over the past decade and is currently 55.5%" (CDC)


The percentage that was actually obese in the metro was 22.8%,


Obesity Rates for States, Metro Areas

https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dch/prog...ing-county.htm


Vancouver and neighbouring areas seem to range around 15 - 20% obesity - similar but a bit less.


https://globalnews.ca/news/1362940/k...-stats-canada/


This link below shows that the Vancouver area residents who live near mountains are way more likely to get the requisite amount of exercise every week. Seattle doesn't have areas like that right adjacent to urban neighbourhoods so that's probably a point in Vancouver's favour too. It also seemed to show that commuting by transit was a benefit to health vs. commuting by car. Vancouver has a way higher transit commute share compared to Seattle (about double).


https://www.myhealthmycommunity.org/

[American Expat]

Originally Posted by ddomenike

Both seem to be very healthy and fit.

I've spent a fair amount of time and I would give Vancouver the edge on fitness because of the numbers of people you see jogging and biking as well as possibly a more balanced approach to work versus life. Too much of Seattle is caught up in the rat race to get ahead.


I love both cities and Seattle definitely has a much stronger and advanced overall economy which is the benefit of the strong focus on work there.

[svelten]

Yeah Vancouver definitely has the edge on fitness attention and focus on people's recreational times. No slight to Seattle, it is much more significant and diversified economically, politically and culturally but I'm there all the time and fitness / the outdoors takes a much further backseat whereas it is front and center in Vancouver.