Is America heading to an obesity epidemic? THESE US cities have the most obese people | – The Times of India
More than 2 in 5 adults in the US are grappling with obesity. This accounts for nearly 42% of the adult population, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A recent study too predicted that America will have an obesity epidemic by 2050. Amidst this, a new survey by WalletHub has dropped a list of cities, where obesity is growing. So much, so that, in some cities, about half the population is already obese.
McAllen, Texas, is on the top of the most obese cities in the country in 2025. The study on the Most Overweight and Obese Cities in the US found that 45 percent of adults in the McAllen metro area are obese. The survey also measured health consequences such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and deaths related to obesity, along with access to healthy food options like fruits and vegetables, and access to parks and recreational facilities.
The survey also noted that in addition to general obesity statistics, McAllen residents are also affected by diseases linked to unhealthy weight. This area stands at the second position for obese teenagers and is at the fifth for obese children.
(Pic courtesy: iStock)
According to the survey, one of the reasons why McAllen residents are overweight is because they are not keen on exercising. The city has the highest share of physically inactive people. “That may not be entirely their fault, considering McAllen has the second-lowest percentage of residents who live close to parks or recreational facilities,” the survey notes. McAllen also has the eighth-highest share of people with diabetes and the fourth-highest heart disease rate.
The survey says that this is due to the city having the second lowest number of health educators per capita and limited access to healthy foods. “The problem will likely remain for the foreseeable future, too, as Little Rock has the second-highest projected obesity rate for 2030,” the survey’s findings say.
Jackson, MS is in the third position with around 37% of obese adults. This area also has the second-highest percentage of adults that had a stroke, and the sixth-highest rate of high blood pressure, at nearly 37%. This is contributed by physical inactivity among adults, and also the lack of access to healthy food options.
The top 10 cities with the highest obesity rates are McAllen, TX; Memphis, TN; Augusta, GA; Shreveport, LA; Dayton, OH; and Oklahoma City, OK.
