If you're worried about the high cost of health care, both now and as you age, you might want to give some thought to where you live as an influence on your health. To point you in the right direction, WalletHub has put together a list of the healthiest and unhealthiest cities in the U.S. "There is an increasing appreciation for the fact that many of our health outcomes are determined long before we enter the health care system: social determinants and health behaviors are major drivers of chronic illness," says Katherine Baicker, professor of health economics at Harvard School of Public Health. Lest you think it's only a matter of how many hospitals and doctors a place has, and how close they are to where you live, you're overlooking a number of other factors—such as access to nutritious food, the degree of air pollution, how many recreation facilities are available (and how good they are) and how affordable health care is. Related: How health issues and life expectancy differ from state to state For its evaluation of just how healthy American cities are—174 made it into the judging, the 150 most populated U.S. cities plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state—WalletHub considered 42 different metrics in four different categories: health care, food, fitness and green space. Each was graded on a score of 100, with 100 being the most favorable for a healthy lifestyle. Data for the critique came from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, County Health Rankings, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Yelp, Numbeo, IMLeagues, Gallup-Sharecare, Google Ads, The Trust for Public Land, Under Armour, Walk Score and WalletHub's own research. Source: WalletHub

While in all practicality, very few people choose to move to a city simply because of its health ranking, it should be an important factor in any major relocation, says Alicia Dahl, an assistant professor, at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. "Health and health care systems of a city are incredibly important to consider before moving. Knowing the city's health statistics and policies can help you understand what issues you may face as a resident. You can do a quick search of public health department statistics to find out this information." Read more: |

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