Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Spain's Second-Worst Capital for Health

A new report by Altezza Travel, a tour company based in Tanzania, has found Santa Cruz de Tenerife to be the second-worst Spanish capital for health and well-being. The study looked at lifestyle habits and city infrastructure, scoring the capital of Tenerife 55 out of 180. This placed it just above Vigo at the very bottom of the ranking.

One of the biggest problems highlighted in the report was the obesity rate. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, along with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has the highest percentage in Spain, affecting 20.6% of its residents. This points to a major public health issue for the Canary Islands.

The study suggests that expensive sports facilities and a lack of active travel (like walking or cycling) contribute to this problem. Even though the city has a good amount of green spaces (45.2%) and 404 running routes, there are very few sports events each year – only about a dozen. This makes it hard to encourage more people to be active.

This is a stark contrast to cities in northern Spain. Vitoria-Gasteiz, for instance, scored 115 points in the same study. This is largely because 40% of its residents choose to walk or cycle, and it has much lower obesity rates. This comparison shows how different Spanish regions approach city planning and health initiatives.

The findings of this report call for a serious look at city planning and public health policies in the capital of the Canary Islands. Organizations like the National Police and emergency services have consistently recommended creating more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly areas and making it easier for people to be physically active. They argue for cities that actively encourage walking and ensure public safety.