These Are the Most Overweight and Obese Cities in the U.S. in 2024
The United States continues to rank as one of the countries with the highest rates of obesity. More than two-thirds of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese, with that number steadily climbing over the past two decades. Being overweight or obese can lead to a wide range of health problems, so getting eating right and staying active is essential to avoid issues down the road.
In the U.S., where you live might also have an effect on your weight, depending on factors like the availability of nutritious food versus fast food, outdoor spaces and gyms to exercise. WalletHub sought to determine the 100 most overweight and obese cities in the U.S. in 2024 and found that many of them are concentrated in one region: the South.
"Obesity is becoming more and more prevalent in the U.S., and it’s costing us big time," WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe said. "In the most overweight and obese cities, residents often lack easy access to healthy food and recreation opportunities, so investing in those areas should help improve people’s diets and exercise regimens, and reduce the financial burden overall."
The top spot went to the border town of McAllen, TX. It reportedly has the largest percentage of obese adults at 45 percent, plus another 31 percent of its population is overweight but not obese. The city also has the highest percentage of physically inactive adults, though it could be explained by the fact that parks and recreational facilities are few and far between.
Jackson, MS has long ranked as one of the poorest cities in the country, so its position in second place shouldn't come as a huge surprise. Meanwhile, the top 10 is largely dominated by two states in the South: Louisiana and Tennessee. Louisiana counts Shreveport, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge as its most overweight cities, while Knoxville, Memphis, and Chattanooga take the title for Tennessee.
Read up on the top 10 most overweight cities in the U.S.
McAllen, TX
Jackson, MS
Shreveport, LA
Mobile, AL
Little Rock, AR
Knoxville, TN
Memphis, TN
Lafayette, LA
Baton Rouge, LA
Chattanooga, TN
