The Easiest US Cities to Shed Those Holiday Pounds in 2026

Los Angeles Crowned America’s #1 City for Weight Loss – Outranks 99 Major Cities Nationwide

Say what you want about LA’s obsession with appearance, but that vanity culture created real fitness infrastructure. Los Angeles ranked first overall, and the “Hollywood effect” shows up in the data. The city analyzed 75 top-rated fitness centers, averaging 4.42 stars with hundreds of thousands of total reviews. When entertainment industry professionals and aspiring actors prioritize appearance, the fitness industry responds with quality facilities available to everyone.

Places like Gold’s Gym Venice (4.6 stars, 1,458 reviews) and Fitness 19 (4.8 stars, 1,288 reviews) prove the point. These aren’t budget facilities barely getting by. They’re gyms where people serious about fitness can find quality equipment and training. That competition raises standards across the market.

The outdoor infrastructure backs up the beach body culture too. Los Angeles features 98 parks in the study, with Griffith Park alone drawing 69,291 Google reviews. When looking good matters to a significant portion of the population, cities build infrastructure to support it. Exposition Park adds another 16,223 reviews, creating multiple options for outdoor activity.

Finding healthy food doesn’t require a treasure hunt either. The city has 67 highly-rated healthy restaurants and grocery stores in the analysis. Whole Foods locations average 4.4 stars with thousands of reviews. Simply Wholesome pulls 4.6 stars from 1,385 reviewers. In a city where many professionals consider appearance part of their career, restaurants offering healthy options thrive.

Los Angeles scored highest in walkability among analyzed neighborhoods too. The city’s mixed-use areas mean you can often walk to the gym, grab a healthy meal, and explore a park without getting in your car. Hollywood’s beauty standards created an ecosystem where fitness infrastructure is abundant.

Somewhat surprisingly, Seattle ranked third, destroying the assumption that constant rain keeps people indoors and sedentary. The city’s fitness infrastructure proves weather doesn’t have to be an obstacle. The study analyzed 76 facilities averaging 4.58 stars. 

What separates Seattle is how the city built infrastructure that refuses to let weather become an excuse. The data shows 114 parks ranging from small neighborhood greens to major recreational areas. For residents who embrace the outdoor culture, trail running in the rain becomes doable with proper gear.

The city also scored well for walkability in the study. Seattle’s compact urban core means residents can build exercise into their commute or daily routine without needing a gym membership for those who choose to do so. For many residents, walking becomes both transportation and fitness for people who take advantage of the layout.

The data proves Seattle’s reputation for indoor-only activities misses the bigger picture. Rain doesn’t stop fitness infrastructure from existing. Whether residents use it remains an individual choice, but the options are there.

Scottsdale Defeats Major Metro Areas: Wealthy Desert City Ranks #5, Ahead of Chicago, Boston, New York

Scottsdale ranked fifth, bringing desert luxury and longevity-focused culture together. The city attracts retirees and health-conscious residents with money to spend on wellness. That demographic creates demand for top-tier fitness facilities. The study analyzed 46 gyms averaging 4.59 stars, with many facilities offering resort-style amenities that appeal to people who value comfort alongside fitness.

The city scored exceptionally high for outdoor spaces in the analysis. Desert preserves and mountain parks create unique workout environments you won’t find in coastal cities. Hiking becomes intense when you’re climbing desert trails in dry heat that makes you sweat from the moment you step outside.

Scottsdale’s healthy food scene reflects the area’s wellness-oriented demographics. The analyzed restaurants average 4.51 stars, with many focusing on fresh, organic ingredients and anti-aging superfoods. The market caters to health-conscious customers who create demand for these options.

The city’s winter visitor population reinforces the availability of fitness options. Snowbirds escaping cold weather bring spending power that keeps quality facilities in business year-round.

St. Louis ranked seventh, delivering quality fitness infrastructure at more affordable prices than many coastal cities. The study found 75 fitness centers averaging 4.69 stars – one of the highest average ratings in the entire analysis. But these aren’t budget gyms barely surviving. They’re quality facilities that earn genuine member satisfaction, and membership costs less than comparable coastal facilities.

The city analyzed 97 parks, and the variety stands out. St. Louis offers everything from urban green spaces to larger recreational areas with extensive trail systems. Forest Park rivals major parks in bigger cities but without the same overcrowding issues. Access to outdoor space comes easier here.

The healthy food infrastructure scored well too, with 57 analyzed options averaging 4.49 stars. St. Louis combines Midwest affordability with growing availability of health-conscious options. You get access to quality facilities and food at more affordable prices than coastal markets.

The data proves a point: expensive cities don’t automatically equal better fitness infrastructure. St. Louis delivers comparable or better gym quality, more accessible parks, and healthy food options at a fraction of the cost for residents who choose to use them.

Glendale ranked ninth, offering access to similar fitness infrastructure as Los Angeles at lower housing costs. The study analyzed 27 gyms averaging 4.35 stars, and the city’s location means residents can also access nearby Los Angeles facilities and parks when desired.

Glendale scored particularly high for walkability in the analysis. The city’s urban layout puts gyms, parks, and healthy food within walking distance for many residents. This convenience can increase consistency for people who opt for an active lifestyle. When the gym is 10 minutes away on foot, the barrier to entry drops.

The city analyzed 54 parks and 28 healthy restaurants, creating variety for residents who want options. Southern California weather means outdoor exercise works year-round for those who take advantage of it, and Glendale provides infrastructure to support that choice.

Minneapolis ranked 11th, proving cold weather doesn’t prevent quality fitness infrastructure. The city built facilities and systems that work despite harsh winters. The study analyzed 55 facilities averaging 4.60 stars, with extensive indoor options for brutal winter months.

The city features 114 analyzed parks, more than almost any other city in the study. Minneapolis maintains winter infrastructure, including trail maintenance and ice skating rinks for residents who stay active year-round. The commitment to winter usability shows in the investment.

Minneapolis invests in protected bike lanes and year-round maintenance, including snow removal from bike paths. That level of commitment to cycling infrastructure in a city with serious winters demonstrates dedication, though whether individual residents bike through winter remains a personal choice.

The cold creates self-selection. People who stay in Minneapolis either adapt to outdoor winter activities or focus on indoor fitness options. The infrastructure supports both approaches.

Austin ranked 13th, offering diverse fitness options that go beyond traditional gyms. The study analyzed 80 facilities averaging 4.58 stars, and a variety shows up in the types available. Traditional facilities exist alongside rock climbing gyms, aerial yoga studios, and parkour training centers for people seeking alternatives to standard workouts.

The city features 102 analyzed parks, with many connected by the extensive trail system. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake alone provides 10 miles of scenic workout space in the heart of downtown for people who use it. The outdoor spaces support recreation and fitness.

Austin’s food scene scored high with 40 analyzed healthy options averaging 4.26 stars. The city’s famous food truck culture includes healthy choices alongside the barbecue scene. The farm-to-table movement provides access to fresh, local ingredients for residents who prioritize that.

The laid-back culture may reduce some intensity around fitness compared to more competitive cities, but the infrastructure does support fitness without quite the same pressure as other cities.

Washington DC ranked 15th, offering dense fitness infrastructure that serves a competitive, ambitious population. The study analyzed 110 facilities averaging 4.50 stars, and the density reflects demand from professionals who value fitness. For some residents, early morning gym sessions double as networking opportunities.

The city features 61 analyzed parks, including the National Mall and Rock Creek Park. These spaces provide quality workout environments at no cost. The extensive bike lanes and Capital Bikeshare system make cycling a viable option for transportation and fitness for residents who choose to bike.

The city’s international presence creates diverse healthy food options, from Ethiopian to Vietnamese to modern American cuisine focused on vegetables and lean proteins. Professional culture supports quality restaurants.