Americans are known for being overweight, and this is not just a stereotype but a fact supported by statistics. Nearly 42% of adults in the United States are obese, and this has significant financial implications. The costs of medical treatment for obesity-related issues amount to approximately $190.2 billion per year, and there are also annual productivity losses of around $4.3 billion due to work absenteeism.
Certain regions bear more responsibility for contributing to poor health outcomes. WalletHub conducted a comparison of 100 of the most populous metro areas in the U.S. across 19 different indicators related to weight-related problems. The data considered factors such as the percentage of physically inactive adults, projected obesity rates by 2030, and access to healthy food options.
Here’s the list of the 15 fattest cities in America.
#15 Fayetteville, AR
- Overall Rank: 15
- Total Score: 79.34
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 14
- Health Consequences Rank: 26
- Food & Fitness Rank: 28
#14 Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Overall Rank: 14
- Total Score: 79.64
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 6
- Health Consequences Rank: 22
- Food & Fitness Rank: 36
#13 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Overall Rank: 13
- Total Score: 80.03
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 9
- Health Consequences Rank: 31
- Food & Fitness Rank: 21
#12 Columbia, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 12
- Total Score: 80.06
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 21
- Health Consequences Rank: 16
- Food & Fitness Rank: 10
#11 Birmingham, Alabama
- Overall Rank: 11
- Total Score: 81.02
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 18
- Health Consequences Rank: 12
- Food & Fitness Rank: 3
#10 Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Overall Rank: 10
- Total Score: 81.15
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 20
- Health Consequences Rank: 8
- Food & Fitness Rank: 13
#9 Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Overall Rank: 9
- Total Score: 81.28
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 11
- Health Consequences Rank: 5
- Food & Fitness Rank: 26
#8 Lafayette, LA
- Overall Rank: 8
- Total Score: 81.64
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 8
- Health Consequences Rank: 25
- Food & Fitness Rank: 15
#7 Memphis, Tennessee
- Overall Rank: 7
- Total Score: 81.65
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 23
- Health Consequences Rank: 3
- Food & Fitness Rank: 4
#6 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Overall Rank: 6
- Total Score: 81.71
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 25
- Health Consequences Rank: 1
- Food & Fitness Rank: 18
#5 Little Rock, Arkansas
- Overall Rank: 5
- Total Score: 82.31
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 5
- Health Consequences Rank: 24
- Food & Fitness Rank: 7
#4 Mobile, AL
- Overall Rank: 4
- Total Score: 83.11
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 10
- Health Consequences Rank: 7
- Food & Fitness Rank: 11
#3 Shreveport, LA
- Overall Rank: 3
- Total Score: 83.82
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 7
- Health Consequences Rank: 4
- Food & Fitness Rank: 17
#2 Jackson, Mississippi
- Overall Rank: 2
- Total Score: 84.58
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 2
- Health Consequences Rank: 6
- Food & Fitness Rank: 8
#1 McAllen, Texas
- Overall Rank: 1
- Total Score: 85.54
- Obesity & Overweight Rank: 4
- Health Consequences Rank: 2
- Food & Fitness Rank: 2
