Belfast is one of the healthiest cities in the UK, a new survey revealed today.
As hundreds sign up for New Year gym sessions in a fresh bid to lose weight, the state of the city's health falls behind London and Cardiff, but ahead of other places such as Edinburgh and Leeds. It is ranked sixth out of 15 in the UK, according to a study commissioned for Sky Travel.
Three key factors determined the survey — health, fitness and environment and included the average number of gyms, personal trainers, health food shops, daily consumption of fruit and vegetables and general health. Brighton on the south coast of England earned the top spot.
The city has the highest proportion of residents who eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, with 29% eating banana rather than burgers on a daily basis. Residents also live to an average of 78 years old — over a year longer than the average age of everywhere else.
Philip Lucas, Head of Community and Leisure Services in Belfast City Council welcomed the study and said: "It recognises the importance that Belfast City Council places on sports and recreation. Belfast has more leisure facilities per head of population than any other city in the UK.
We are proud of this and are building on it with the construction of a new facility at the Grove Leisure Centre. "The facility currently under construction will combine a leisure centre with a library and a major health facility to provide a holistic health and well-being service for the community in Belfast. It is due to open in January 2008".