The Fittest States in the U.S., Ranked
With Instagram serving as a source for fitness and health inspiration, millions of people around the U.S. post about their workouts and meals. So, Rave Reviews decided to check out the trends using data from more than 2.3 million posts.
The findings had some states leading the posting pack with hashtags like #yoga, #running, #strengthtraining and #Pilates for fitness, while dieting hashtags like #protein, #mealprep, #ketolife and #paleo were common. We then calculated the number of hashtags from every state per resident to come up with this list of fittest states (plus Washington, D.C.).
But there's more to fitness and healthy eating than the hashtags illustrated. In fact, what locals eat and do with their time is oftentimes a reflection of the culture. While some are certainly more health-conscious than others, you might be surprised about what each state can offer the fitness and health world. Sure, travelers know they can get tasty fried chicken in the South, but there's also dancing to blues music, gorgeous parks for afternoon jogs and swimming opportunities galore.
So, which states take fitness seriously and which ones, well, simply don't seem to care? Just see for yourself...
51: Mississippi
Population: 2,976,149
Top Workout: Barre, CrossFit, Strength Training
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Shake Your Tail Feather
Let's be real. Mississippi often winds up dead last on a lot of these lists. Not only did it come in at the bottom of Rave Reviews' ranking, but it's also the leading state for adult obesity with 39.5 percent of the people classified as obese in 2018. But all is not lost in this southern state.
Did you know the state is the birthplace of blues music? Locals and tourists alike can get in their exercise while dancing to local musicians — Jimmy Buffett, B.B. King and Elvis Presley were all born in Mississippi. Plus, there are more than 200 stops along the state's official Blues Trail.
50: West Virginia
Population: 1,792,147
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, CrossFit
Top Diet: Paleo
Riding the Rapids
OK, so tying with Mississippi for highest obesity rate in the country and ranking second-to-last in terms of working out isn't fun, but white water rafting is! Maybe some don't think of rafting as exercise, but anyone who has ever shot down the Gauley, New, Cheat, Tygart, Shenandoah or Potomac Rivers will tell you otherwise.
The high-adrenaline adventures found in the valleys of West Virginia include Class V rapids that require lots of muscle to paddle, steer and maintain balance in the raft or kayak.
49: Alabama
Population: 4,903,185
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, CrossFit 24
Top Diet: Paleo
Revving Engines
Alabama isn't high on the list for being fit. In fact, not one of the workout hashtags from this state had more than 40 hashtags per million residents — yikes! Maybe it's because the folks of Alabama are spending too much time watching and not enough doing? Obesity rates are a high 36.2 percent.
The activity of choice in Alabama is NASCAR. (Don't tell the people of Alabama that NASCAR racing isn't a sport!) A lot of adrenaline goes into every race, including those who watch. You can catch races at Talladega Superspeedway to see for yourself how cool it is to feel the rumble of the race cars speeding past.
48: Wyoming
Population: 578,759
Top Workouts: Barre, Yoga, Cycling
Top Diet: Clean Eating
Wide Open Spaces
Out of all the exercise tags, Wyoming's minuscule two posts per million people for running shows how little residents here feel like taking a jog. But why run when you can ride?
There are nearly 1 million horses in Wyoming — more than its human residents — and more often than not the local favorite form of exercise is a ride through the rugged terrain. (It's worth noting that residents here have lower obesity rates.) Even visitors can take part by staying at one of more than two-dozen dude ranches.
47: North Dakota
Population: 762,062
Top Workouts: Barre, Yoga, Home Workouts
Top Diet: Paleo
Hit a Rock
Of the states with the smallest amount of cycling posts, that would be North Dakota. (Which also happens to have high obesity rates at 35.1 percent.) The state had just three posts per million residents.
But that's because North Dakota's Great Plains beckon active folks to move onwards and upwards instead. There has been a rise in rock climbing in the state, with six climbing areas established under the North Dakota Climber's Coalition. Instead of just viewing massive rock formations like Chimney Butte, you can climb them instead.
46: Nebraska
Population: 1,934,408
Top Workouts: Strength Training, Barre, CrossFit
Top Diet: Paleo
Time to Chill
There may be a good reason strength training is the most-tagged form of exercise in Nebraska — the state's biggest industry is agriculture. If you spent your days working farms, fields and ranches maybe you, too, would prefer a quiet stroll or drive through Henry Doorly Zoo or Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari in your downtime.
Although dare we say there is a bit too much chillaxing going on here? Obesity rates are 34.1 percent.
45: Kansas
Population: 2,913,314
Top Workouts: Strength Training, Barre, CrossFit
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Pigskin Blues
Kansas may be one of the least-fit states in terms of obesity rates (34.4 percent) and the Rave Reviews ranking, but in all fairness, the residents spent much of the year watching the Kansas City Chiefs win their first Superbowl in 50 years.
The Chiefs technically play on the Kansas City, Missouri, side, but neighboring Kansans share a love for the team. Who knows, maybe the big win will inspire people to play more football?
44: Iowa
Population: 3,155,070
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, CrossFit
Top Diet: Paleo
Two-Wheelers Unite
Although cycling wasn't one of Iowa's top workouts, the state is home to an annual bike ride across the state that draws thousands of participants. RAGBRAI (the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) is the world's largest, longest and oldest bike ride. Taking place over the course of seven days, 8,500 riders (plus 1,500-day riders) cross the state from west to east every summer.
The ride is so popular a lottery takes place in the winter to secure a spot for the 468-mile trek — although not enough are participating with obesity rates at 35.3 percent.
43: Kentucky
Population: 4,446,673
Top Workouts: Home Workouts, Barre, Strength training
Top Diet: Meal Prep / Paleo (tie)
Play Ball
Sports are not included in the Rave Reviews' workout list, which is a shame because athletic skills and fitness are needed to participate. Louisville, Kentucky, is home to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, which tells the story of how America's pastime was built using the wooden Louisville Slugger bats, first created here.
Of course, the game is played here, too. Louisville is home to the Minor League Bats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Still, with obesity rates at 36.6 percent, maybe a little more playing and less watching would be a good idea.
42: Oklahoma
Population: 3,956,971
Top Workouts: CrossFit, Strength Training, Barre
Top Diet: Keto
Ride 'Em Cowboy
It's a meat and potatoes world in Oklahoma. The state's 34.8 percent obesity rate combined with the fact that Edmond, Oklahoma, featured more #protein posts than any other city in the U.S. are proof.
And you need that protein and strength training to be ready for a rough and rowdy rodeo. The first rodeo in the state was held in the mid-1880s. Competitors keep cowboy traditions alive with bull riding, roping and barrel racing, bringing spectators to some of the biggest rodeo events in the country.
41: Arkansas
Population: 3,017,804
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Cycling
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Soak It In
Arkansas may not be high on the list of fittest states and has the third-highest obesity rate at 37.1 percent. For this one, we blame the state's ancient thermal springs.
There are 47 springs spilling a million gallons of thermal water on Hot Springs Mountain every day. The temperature is a hot 143 degrees Fahrenheit and serves as a natural hot tub in Hot Springs, Arkansas, bathhouses. It's the perfect place to rest tired muscles (or already relaxed ones for that matter).
40: South Dakota
Population: 884,659
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga / CrossFit (tie)
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Hog Heaven
South Dakota's residents are least likely to do yoga with just 14 posts per million. Looks like running (7 posts per million) and Pilates (6 posts per million) are also not impressive to Dakotans, who have a high 30.1 percent obesity rate.
What is impressive, however, is when 500,000 people descend upon the town of Sturgis for nearly two weeks every August for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It's one of the most famous rallies in the world!
39: Missouri
Population: 6,137,428
Top Workouts: Strength Training, Barre, CrossFit
Top Diet: Meal Prep
BBQ Country
Does "meal prep" count when someone else is prepping some serious barbecue? (It should!) Who needs strength training when you can do curls getting the famous regional cue from the plate to your lips.
Want to try for yourself? Follow the state's Barbecue Trail, or visit Kansas City in September for the American Royal, the world's largest barbecue competition. But be careful how much you eat. The citizens of Missouri have high obesity rates at 35 percent, and we can guess why.
38: New Mexico
Population: 2,096,829
Top Workouts: Yoga, Barre, CrossFit
Top Diet: Clean Eating
The Truth Is Out There
If you spend much of your time keeping an eye on the stars, it can be difficult to squeeze in a workout. Perhaps, it's New Mexico's infamous alien visitors that keep home workouts to just 12 posts per million. It is believed a UFO crashed in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947, and everyone has been on the lookout ever since.
But each July, a three-day festival draws thousands who sport fashion straight out of a sci-fi novel to run or walk the annual Alien Chase 5K or 10K.
37: Wisconsin
Population: 5,822,434
Top Workouts: Barre, Yoga, home Workouts
Top Diet: Keto
10 Pin
Strength training in Wisconsin receives 226 posts per million people. Could it have something to do with gaining the strength to toss bowling balls at the local alley? In a world where bowling alleys are dwindling, they are still pretty popular in the Dairy State. (It has the third-highest concentration in the country.)
Although Wisconsin doesn't rank high on Rave Reviews' list and has a high obesity rate (32 percent), its people do post an impressive 352 workout posts per million.
36: Indiana
Population: 6,732,219
Top Workouts: Barre, Home Workouts, Strength Training
Top Diet: Meal Prep
One More Lap
This midwestern state has a high obesity rate (34.1 percent) and is middle of the road in terms of fitness, but Indiana is more than ho-hum when it comes to sports. It is home to the world-famous Indy 500.
No, you won't see car racing on Rave Reviews' fitness list, and yes, only pros can participate in this race, but for more than a century, the driver who competes in the 500-lap race needs to be physically strong enough to handle the pace.
35: Michigan
Population: 9,986,857
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Board Patrol
While Rave Reviews didn't look to skiing and snowboarding, we're betting the state that started snowboarding fairs much better on fitness levels than No. 35.
Michigan has 40 ski resorts — more than celebrated winter destinations like Colorado and Utah. Head to North Michigan's Boyne Highlands, and you'll find the longest ski run in the state.
34: Minnesota
Population: 5,639,632
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga
Top Diet: Paleo
On Thin Ice
While the lack of diets and workouts may land Minnesota higher up on this list, it has the rest of the country beat in a good way when it comes to hockey. This extremely physical sport requires strength, agility and speed, and surely states in the South cannot compete, no matter how much strength training they do.
Minnesota was the first state to have a college organize a hockey team to compete against its northern neighbors on ice skates. Before there were cars, Minnesotans were on skates, and it happens to be nicknamed the "11th province of Canada."
33: Ohio
Population: 11,689,100
Top Workouts: Strength Training, CrossFit, Yoga
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Fore!
Ohio is another midwestern state with a middle-of-the-country fitness score and a high obesity rate (34 percent). While the state may not be as renowned as others for its sports and events, it is one of the most popular states for golf.
There are nearly 800 golf courses in Ohio, including nationally recognized Golf Club, Inverness Club and Muirfield Village courses.
32: Louisiana
Population: 4,648,794
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Dance the Night Away
Like Mississippi, Louisiana gets a bad rap for fitness. (It does have the country's fourth-worst obesity rate at 36.8 percent.) And like Ole Miss is home to the blues, the Bayou State is home to jazz. New Orleans is credited with being the birthplace of this lively musical combination of blues and ragtime, and it's easy to burn calories dancing the night away at one of the city's many music joints.
And there is no better place to dance to jazz than at NOLA's annual Jazz Festival, which has been celebrating the music since 1970.
31: South Carolina
Population: 5,148,714
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, CrossFit
Top Diet: Paleo
In a Real Pickle
The hot and humid weather doesn't stop the people of South Carolina from being outside (although it still lands in the red zone for obesity at 34.3 percent). Whether it is strength training in the Great Outdoors, doing CrossFit or spending time on the courses and courts that can be enjoyed year-round, this state is more about fitness than Instagram thinks.
One sport that has become hugely popular in the state's vacation destinations like Hilton Head is Pickleball. This combination of tennis, Ping Pong and badminton was invented in Washington State, but the retirees of the Carolinas have made it their own and are spreading it up and down the coast.
30: Alaska
Population: 731,545
Top Workouts: Barre, Yoga, Cycling
Top Diet: Paleo
Miles Ahead
Anyone can do yoga and barre, but how many can say they can mush?
Sled dogs were used to maneuver across the Inuit lands that include Alaska. Today, mushing sled dogs is a form of recreation. The annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race between Anchorage to Nome takes more than 50 teams nearly 1,000 miles and two weeks to complete.
It's not just a test of strength for the dogs, but also one of the people mushing, and Alaska has healthy obesity levels to prove it.
29: Idaho
Population: 1,787,065
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, CrossFit
Top Diet: Paleo
All Downhill From Here
The people of Idaho will surely have something to say about landing at No. 29 on this list, especially because they have low obesity rates.
And cycling may not appear on their Instagram feeds, but maybe that's because they are doing it in the mountains and are too busy — and too off the grid — to post to social media.
Boise alone has 150 different trails and routes for mountain bikers. The entire state is two-wheeler friendly with 12,000 miles of single-track trails.
28: Virginia
Population: 8,535,519
Top Workouts: Strength Training, Barre, Yoga
Top Diet: Meal prep
Om.
Virginia is pretty middle of the road when it comes to Rave Reviews' findings. Without any big standouts in hashtags on fitness or diet, the state is, well, the 28th fittest — in other words, very average.
The state's travel logo is "Virginia Is For Lovers," so maybe they are just too busy loving life than worrying about Instagram.
27: Tennessee
Population: 6,829,174
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, CrossFit
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Deep Dive
It's too difficult to Instagram when you are deep in the earthy caves of Tennessee. Home to 20 percent of America's caves, Tennessee offers underground hiking, diving and spelunking (exploring caves). While not for the claustrophobic, all the physical endeavors of hiking in the mountains above the earth are just done below by the light of flashlights.
Even those interested in trying for the first time can find tour guides for places like Raccoon Mountain Caverns and The Lost Sea, which boasts a 13-acre underground lake.
But, still, the Vols need to amp up their workouts and decrease their 34.4 percent obesity rate.
26: Pennsylvania
Population: 12,801,989
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Carry a Big Stick
Just missing the second half of the list is Pennsylvania, where 1,485 posts about barre per million are found. Another 1,148 workout posts were also a sign that fitness is important, despite its middle-of-the-road ranking.
Maybe fitness comes early for the people of Pennsylvania. The state's schools boast high levels of lacrosse and field hockey participation with some of the best players in the country sprouting from the here.
25: Illinois
Population: 12,671,821
Top Workouts: Strength Training, Barre, Yoga
Top Diet: Paleo
A Heavy Load
In Illinois, there is no contest as to what fitness locals prefer. More than 1,000 posts per million are all about strength training, with another 1,500 workout posts — more than double most of the other hashtag fitness options.
Having a #bodypositive attitude spreads out the diet almost evenly as well. It's not enough to have a good obesity rate statewide but a start.
24: Montana
Population: 1,068,778
Top Workouts: Barre, Pilates, Running
Top Diet: Paleo
Oar Approval
Montana just barely ekes into the second half of the fittest states, and it's not to say residents aren't active. Even their obesity rates are some of the lowest in the country. This is Big Sky country, and let's just say they'd rather be outdoors than in.
That's easy to do when there are 3,223 lakes and reservoirs, which makes the state a kayaker's dream. The deepest lake in the state is the 492-foot deep Tally Lake, which spans 1,200 acres.
23: North Carolina
Population: 10,488,084
Top Workouts: Strength Training, Barre, Yoga / CrossFit (tie)
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Net Love
North and South Carolina share borders as well as fitness interests (and, unfortunately, obesity rates). North Carolina residents and tourists are much more than their indoor fitness routines. This is a mild-winter, long-summer destination where the courts and courses rule.
Pros love it, too, arriving in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, just before the annual U.S. Open grand slam in the summer. The ATP 250 event is even fun for spectators.
22: Maine
Population: 1,344,212
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga
Top Diet: Paleo
One Foot in Front of the Other
Barre, strength training and yoga fall first, second and third in Maine, but the real reason Maine's people are fit is how active they are outdoors. In the summer, hiking and boating top the daily to-do list, while the winter brings snow-covered fun.
Snowshoeing is especially popular, as much of the state is blanketed with snow when roads close until they thaw. There are even 42 parks and preserved land dedicated to snowshoeing. However, long winters can be brutal on those who don't get outside. Carb loading winters could be to blame for the 30.4 percent obesity rate across the state.
21: Maryland
Population: 6,045,680
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Home Workouts
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Ahoy!
Maryland's location along the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean lends to its capital city of Annapolis to be the sailing capital of America. They don't have time to hashtag about their sailing endeavors; they are too busy hoisting sails and trying to avoid the boom.
Sailing isn't about a lazy day at sea (although they have those, which could account for the 30.9 percent obesity rate) but a real feat of endurance, strength and cardio. Good thing strength training is popular in Maryland.
20: Delaware
Population: 973,764
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Plié
The small state of Delaware lands in the top 20, and that is due to a love of all things barre. This exercise class uses a ballet barre and uses the movements of ballet for a strengthening and flexibility workout. More than double the hashtags of other workout forms, #barre was posted 196 times per million residents.
Still, Delaware isn't considered a healthy state. Its obesity rate is 33.5 percent.
19: Texas
Population: 28,995,881
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Slicing Through the Water
It can get real hot in Texas, which may explain why indoor workouts such as yoga, barre and strength training lead the activities for residents. But Texas, which has a 34.8 percent obesity rate, is also renowned for being one of the most competitive states for swimming.
Competitive or not, swimming is a popular pastime in Texas. Not only does it share a border with the Gulf of Mexico, but it also has 7,000 lakes in which to take a dip.
18: Washington
Population: 7,614,893
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, CrossFit
Top Diet: Paleo
Climb a Mountain
Although paleo gets the most hashtags across the state, in Olympia, Washington, it's the keto diet that is tagged more than any other U.S. city.
Perhaps the high protein diet works to strengthen residents for mountain climbing and keeps their obesity rate down. The state is home to the North and South Cascades Mountain Ranges, Mount St. Helens as well as Mount Rainier National Park. At 14,411 feet, Mount Rainier is the third-tallest peak in the contiguous U.S.
17: Georgia
Population: 10,617,423
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Eat Like a Caveperson
Meal prep may receive more hashtags than paleo, but the latter diet actually got its start in Georgia. Following the Paleolithic studies of Walter Voegtlin, Emory University Professor Dr. S. Boyd Eaton wrote "The Paleolithic Prescription" in 1988. The doctor argued that struggles with modern diseases and health are due to the fact that our bodies were meant to eat the foods of our ancestors. Ever since, millions of copies of paleo-themed diet books have been sold.
However, paleo is a high-protein diet, and too much of one food type can be doing more bad than good for the state's 32.5 percent who are considered obese.
16: Rhode Island
Population: 1,059,361
Top Workouts: Barre, Yoga, CrossFit
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Flipping for Fitness
The popularity of CrossFit in Rhode Island isn't a surprise. This is a state known for pushing physical feats. In fact, in 1995, the very first extreme sports competition, X Games, was held in Rhode Island.
X Games include BMX freestyle, skateboarding, motocross and mountain biking during the summer when the games were first launched. It takes a lot of skill and fitness to not only ride a bike, but to also flip into a backward somersault and land on it. The people of Rhode Island land in the top 10 lowest-obesity rates in the country.
15: New Hampshire
Population: 1,359,711
Top Workouts: Barre, Yoga, Strength Training
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Gliding Through
New Hampshire, borderline in obesity, leads in yoga, barre and strength training, which can be helpful when skiing outdoors. Like its neighbor, Vermont, both alpine and cross country skiing are popular, and New Hampshire offers 33 different ski resorts to keep people moving.
The White Mountains of the north provide the best cross country ski area in the east in Jackson, New Hampshire. Here, there are more than 50 trails and 60,000 miles to explore.
14: Massachusetts
Population: 6,892,503
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Row Your Boat
Massachusetts makes it into the top 15, which is not a surprise when you consider the array of things to do. From skiing, ice skating and playing hockey in the winter to sailing, swimming and hiking in the summer and everything in between, Massachusetts is an active state — and has a low obesity rate to show for it.
You won't see crew (rowing) on Rave Review's list, but this team sport is popular amongst the colleges of Massachusetts. Every fall since 1965, Cambridge hosts the Head of the Charles Regatta, which is the largest two-day regatta in the world. More than 11,000 crew in 1,900 boats compete in 61 events on the Charles River with even more thousands of spectators in attendance.
13: Utah
Population: 3,205,958
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga
Top Diet: Keto
Take a Hike
Hiking should be on Rave Reviews' criteria for fitness because the residents of Utah would probably crack the top 10. One of the top states for hiking in the U.S., Utah is home to the Mighty Five. These are five of America's most-visited and most-beautiful national parks: Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon.
There are nearly 1,300 hiking trails in the state, including one that stretches 149.6 miles.
12: Connecticut
Population: 3,565,287
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga
Top Diet: Paleo
Great Catch
The small state of Connecticut actually has a host of fitness-conscious activities. There are land and sea to enjoy in this New England state. But it's Frisbee (with two e's) that got its start here — all because of pie.
After eating the popular William Frisbie pies at the Frisbie Pie Company in Bridgeport, university students in the late 1800s would throw the tins into the trash after cleaning their plates. Eventually, a plastic version was created, and you'll find people in Connecticut parks and beaches still tossing them today.
11: New Jersey
Population: 8,882,190
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, CrossFit
Top Diet: Meal Prep
United Teams
Not unlike Connecticut, New Jersey's mix of hills and sea provide an avenue of playgrounds for the body-conscious residents. And like Connecticut, New Jersey introduced the world to another take on the popular disc game: Ultimate Frisbee, is a cross between football, basketball, soccer and, yes, Frisbee.
This high-energy sport is legit fitness, even if it is not included in the hashtag findings. What is often hashtagged, however, is clean eating, with 738 posts per million people found in Bayonne, New Jersey, alone!
10: Oregon
Population: 4,217,737
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, CrossFit
Top Diet: Paleo
Cardio Love
Of course, Oregon landed in the top 10. Not only does it love to try new-and-improved methods of strength training like barre and CrossFit, but the state can also say it introduced the world to the elliptical trainer.
The machines were created in 1995 by Precor following Inventor Larry Miller's efforts to improve his daughter's fitness levels. This cardio machine works both the upper and lower body, unlike many stationary machines built for exercise. It sure improved hers and millions of other Oregon residents, who ranked high for #bodypositivity.
9: Colorado
Population: 5,758,736
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, CrossFit
Top Diet: Paleo
A New Ride
Colorado's mountains make it an outdoor lover's paradise. The people of Colorado are very active and fit beyond the fitness classes and healthy eating. Here, if you aren't hiking, mountain biking, skiing or snowboarding, you are the odd one out. Plus, Colorado has the country's lowest obesity rate — 23 percent.
A newer outdoor sport has caught wind here, too: sandboarding. When there isn't snow, boarders ride the sand found at Great Sand Dunes National Park, home to the highest sand dunes in North America.
8: Arizona
Population: 7,278,717
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Home Workouts
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Rocky Road
Hiking may not be on Rave Reviews' fitness survey, but with 24 national parks, including the Grand Canyon, at their disposal, we'll guess it's No. 1 for Arizona residents.
Strength training is important in Arizona. Yes, getting the muscles ready for mountain climbs is important, but they also come in handy for the white water rafting, lake water skiing and other adventures that keep locals and visitors outside.
7: Vermont
Population: 623,989
Top Workouts: Barre, Yoga, Strength Training
Top Diet: Paleo
Downward Dog
Barre, yoga, paleo? Of course, the nature-loving state of Vermont ranks high for the more holistic approach to health. Some may call Vermonters "crunchy," but it's a compliment to be more in tune with the surroundings.
Winters may be long and morph into "mud season," which is why skiing is a big part of life for residents and visitors. There are 20 alpine and 30 cross country ski resorts in the state, including Killington, its largest.
6: New York
Population: 19,453,561
Top Workouts: Barre, Yoga, Strength Training
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Hitting the Pavement
It's a surprise that Rave Reviews didn't find New Yorkers tagging running more. New York City is the first city to hold a marathon race, and throughout the year, people across the city are training for the main event.
The marathon took place in 1896, and today, up to 98,000 people run the 26.2-mile race that goes through all five boroughs of New York.
5: Florida
Population: 21,477,737
Top Workouts: Yoga, CrossFit, Strength Training
Top Diet: Paleo
Rolling Along
Miami Beach actually scored the most #bodypositivity posts for a city, with its neighboring Miami in second place. We can only guess what comes with the territory. Where else can you wear an itty-bitty bikini year-round than Miami?
Beach bods on the coasts of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico can be seen jogging, walking, biking, rollerskating and rollerblading along the sand-strewn sidewalks and boardwalks.
4: California
Population: 39,512,223
Top Workouts: Barre, Yoga, Strength Training
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Spike!
Of course, you expected to see California in the top five, right? The people of California love organic, clean-eating, low-carb diets and the year-round good weather to enjoy the state's spoils.
There are mountains to be hiked and skied, oceans to be surfed and beaches to show off muscles. Venice Beach is the birthplace of Gold's Gym and Muscle Beach while nearby Santa Monica is the birthplace of beach volleyball. The state also is home to more professional sports teams in the U.S. and more Heisman Trophy winners. They certainly aren't lazy here, landing in the top five lowest-obesity rates as well.
3: Nevada
Population: 3,080,156
Top Workouts: Yoga, Strength Training, Barre
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Taking a Hit
Being physically fit is a way of life for many who live in Nevada, home to four national parks, eight ski resorts, and nine lakes and reservoirs. One of the top posters of #bodypositivity, the Great Outdoors is great for its residents.
In Las Vegas, under the neon lights, spectators also can find the nation's top spot for boxing. This is where some of the biggest matches in the history of the sport have taken place. Showing off their own top levels of fitness have been the likes of Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and George Foreman. And tickets to these shows don't come cheap!
2: Hawaii
Population: 1,415,872
Top Workouts: Yoga, Barre, CrossFit
Top Diet: Paleo
Hang 10
The ocean surrounding the islands of Hawaii keeps its population in swimsuits much of the year. But it's not the reason they are the fittest state. One of the top hashtags found is #bodypositivity — and Hawaii's 24.9 percent obesity levels are the second best in all of the states.
A healthy lifestyle makes it easier to be active, and Hawaii has outdoor fun in the sun to be had on every square inch. Although Rave Reviews didn't look at sports, Hawaii is especially popular for surfing. Tell us you don't think of Hawaii and think of the Big Kahuna surfers enjoying the gnarly waves.
1: District of Columbia
Population: 705,749
Top Workouts: Barre, Strength Training, Yoga
Top Diet: Meal Prep
Top Honors
Considered the most active "state" based on fitness Instagram activity, Washington, D.C., has 527 posts per million people for #bodypositivity. It's also all about working out at home and diets filled with protein. (It has the No. 1 spot for #Instafitness, #homeworkout and #protein.)
With its many posts regarding fitness, Washington, D.C., takes the top spot as fittest on the Rave Reviews list. It also has the second-lowest obesity rate in the country. Everywhere you turn, there are people walking, biking, running, kayaking, sculling and packing gyms.