The large number of residents partaking in recreational activities such as bike riding has contributed to the results. Photo: Josef Winkler.
New research conducted by sports equipment supplier Net World Sports has found that Wagga Wagga is the eighth fittest city in NSW.
The study included metrics such as the percentage of residents with lasting health conditions and the percentage of residents meeting daily exercise requirements.
The research showed that only 8.7 per cent of residents lived with a long-term health condition, including 2 per cent with heart disease and 1.5 per cent with lung conditions.
Meanwhile, 79.4 per cent of people were meeting exercise guidelines, while 69 per cent participated in sport or recreational activity.
The study suggested Wagga Wagga’s high number of sporting clubs across a large variety of sporting codes helped boost the city’s standings.
However, the high number of fast food chains in Wagga impacted its ranking.
Many have criticised the number of fast food restaurants in the city, including local grower Zoe Lamont, who labelled the opening of Wagga’s fifth McDonald’s store in December last year as a tragedy.
“It’s absolutely the opposite of what we need to be doing for the community’s health, mental health, for our local food security and our local food procurement,” she said.
“It’s an absolute tragedy and a complete missed opportunity to create something innovative.
“We can’t just be letting these massive, big chains come and run through all the new developments.”
Sitting above Wagga in the rankings are Sydney, Bathurst, Dubbo, Ballina, Morriset, Albury and the Central Coast.
Wagga cyclist Josef Winkler has ridden a mountain bike for nearly two decades and said he had seen more people take to bike riding every year.
Mr Winkler said Wagga was known as the City of Good Sports and he was not shocked to hear Wagga Wagga was ranked so highly.
“Working at a bike shop, we see more and more people buying bikes every day,” he said.
“I think that goes to show just how good a culture we have here in Wagga when it comes to physical activity and recreational activities.
“We have a huge cycle path network here in Wagga too; I think Canberra is the only place in the state that has a bigger one.
“I know plenty of people who are a part of a sporting club or even just casually going to the gym, which is good to see.”
Net World Sports CEO Alex Loven said the study’s figures were encouraging and proof that big gyms weren’t always what was needed to keep active.
“You don’t need a fancy gym or a big city to stay active; find little ways to move every day,” he said.
“Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk your dog, do a stretch session in the morning or start easy home workouts.
“With the right gear, you can build a consistent routine and keep your body moving, no matter where you live.”
