Boulder, Colorado, is known for being the country’s ‘skinniest’ city.
Only 12 percent of residents are obese, nearly four times lower than the national average, and seven in 10 people work out religiously.
But the city’s stellar reputation for fitness and high quality of life has a dark side, with some residents saying they feel intimidated by the number of locals in peak shape. And eating disorders are prevalent.
Boulder’s University of Colorado campus has nearly triple the national average of eating disorders among women compared to other college campuses and the fifth-highest rate in the country among teens.
Will Tennyson, a hugely popular fitness guru from Toronto, visited Boulder to talk to residents about the city’s reputation as a mecca for health-centered Americans.
One resident told Tennyson she would spend an hour or two on the exercise bike to ensure she was burning enough calories, which she said would justify eating a bare-bones breakfast of an apple and possibly a small handful of nuts.
That was often her only ‘meal’ for the day.
Others said strong focus on thinness and physical fitness, though meant to encourage health, can create unhealthy social pressures, especially on school-age children and women.
One Boulder resident who had recently moved from California, often regarded as one of the other health-conscious states, told Tennyson: ‘I definitely could see that there’s like, a pressure to be more fit here just because everybody is.’
Mountain biking is extremely popular in Boulder, with the city having four bikes for every one resident
A Boulder resident who moved from California said he believes the city’s reputation as a mecca for health nuts could intimidate new arrivals
Boulder has been named the ‘fittest’ and ‘skinniest’ city in America for years.
Gallup’s Well-Being Index found that nearly 70 percent of residents work out for more than 30 minutes three or more times a week.
The city is affluent, with a relatively higher annual income compared to the national average and the rest of the state, at about $147,000 for a household.
People with higher incomes tend to live healthier lives overall.
The higher income and quality of life means more people can afford fresh, whole foods, top-tier athletic gear, and mountain adventures.
Mountain biking is particularly popular, and the city has an average of four bikes for every person.
More than 70 Olympians live in Boulder, having been drawn to the city for its robust athletic culture.
But Tennyson added: ‘While on the surface everyone in Boulder is healthy, happy, and fit, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
‘People are suffering in silence.’
A 63-year-old resident of Boulder, who is in peak physical shape for his age, told Tennyson that he knows of many women who ‘barely eat’
Boulder residents said that, often, people become obsessed of their healthy habits and exercise routine, often spiraling into disorded eating
Several locals said this fact was new to them, but two teenagers at a park disagreed.
One said: ‘I think probably every girl, they have an eating disorder, whether it’s diagnosed or not.’
Another resident, a 63-year-old man in peak physical shape, said: ‘Women that I know… they barely eat. I know this for sure.’
Even the two male teenagers in the park said they struggle with body image and weight.
Tennyson said: ‘It starts as a good habit but then ends up getting kind of bad cuz you’re taking it too far.’
Yet many people lack awareness that something is wrong with their approach to food and exercise. This means thousands of people suffer in silence, perhaps for decades, before realizing they can ask for help.
Tennyson spoke to Brooke Alexander, an eating disorders specialist, who said the issue is especially prevalent among teenagers, who often feel immense social pressure to be thin
The small city boasts dozens of healthy restaurants, clean public parks, and extensive outdoor activities. But many people there feel pressure to become a health nut just to fit in
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Eating disorder clinics that cater to teenagers are ‘always full,’ according to Brooke Alexander, a health and well-being coach who specializes in disordered eating.
She said: ‘I know a lot of people in Boulder and in Colorado who are actively struggling with eating disorders and also who are in recovery or have recovered.
‘People can struggle with an eating disorder for decades before actually realizing, oh wow, this is something I can ask for help with.’
And it’s not just young people struggling to fit in and stay thin. Ms Alexander added: I’ve worked with clients who were in their 70s, too.’
