Beaumont among nation's worst areas for well-being

10. Despite this cute street, Evansville, Ind., is the 10th worst city for well-being.

10. Despite this cute street, Evansville, Ind., is the 10th worst city for well-being. Photo: Wiki Commons Photo: Wiki Commons Image 1 of / 56 Caption Close Beaumont among nation's worst areas for well-being 1 / 56 Back to Gallery

Beaumont has been named among the worst cities in the nation for well-being, according to a national survey just released.

The Gallup-Healthways study is based on phone calls to residents asking them to answer questions about the quality of life in their area.

Everything from financial security to work environments, physical and emotional health and access to healthy food are included in the questionnaire.

For the second year in a row, the Beaumont-Port Arthur area came among the lowest ranked places: 184 out of 189 metro areas.

Conversely Austin-Round Rock with its bike friendly, healthy eating and outdoor lifestyle came in at number 30, the highest spot for any Texas city.

Researchers argue that overall well-being of the population is key to national growth.

"Increased well-being is vital to improving the physical, emotional and financial health of Americans," said Dan Witters, research director of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index in a news release. "Communities that score high in well-being have achieved success in creating environments where people can live their best lives."

The news was met with consternation by some Beaumont residents who say people should go there and see for themselves what Southeast Texas is like.

"I really don't see anything negative," local resident Jean Davis told 12News. "I think it's a nice place to live and people that don't like it or disagree should come check it out."

Others said they fear nearby industry does have a negative impact on health.

"I got breast cancer after moving here and I work at a hospital," B. J. Scott said. "I see other patients with cancer and I think it might be environmentally related."

Gallup-Healthways say the study is not designed to criticize but to help shape communities and formulate policies to promote well-being.

"Policies that nudge people into healthy activities - where it's easy to walk to the store, bike to a friend's house, get access to fresh produce, and be surrounded by healthy-minded, supportive friends are ones that make healthy choice also the eay choice," said New York Times best selling author Dan Buettner.

Top of the list were Provo-Orem, Utah, which has the lowest self-reported smoking rate in the nation, and Boulder, Colo., the only city in the country with an obesity rate below the national target of 15 per cent.

Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown made it to number 60 while Texas overall came in with a similarly mediocre ranking of 21 out of 50 states.

The survey also painted a grim picture for young men, confirming what many mothers and girlfriends bemoan, that 18-29 year old males are the worst at taking care of themselves.

Blue collar young men earning under $36,000 were the most likely to be obese, smoke, not go to the doctor or dentist, not have health insurance at all and be disastified with their jobs.

The best cities for well-being in the nation were: