The obesity epidemic continues to plague the United States, and new research highlights that the South bears the heaviest burden.
According to a recent WalletHub study, ten Southern cities top the list for having the highest rates of overweight and obese residents.
These metro areas not only struggle with alarming obesity statistics but also face severe health consequences, food deserts, and limited access to fitness resources.
From McAllen, Texas to Columbia, South Carolina, this article explores the cities where obesity is most prevalent and examines the underlying factors contributing to this public health crisis in America’s southern regions.
1: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area in Texas has been identified as having the highest obese population in the WalletHub study.
This region achieved an overall score of 85.93 points, with higher scores indicating a greater prevalence of overweight and obese residents.
Alarmingly, the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area ranked as the second-worst in both the health consequences and fitness categories.
This suggests that residents in this area are experiencing significant adverse health effects due to their weight and generally lack sufficient physical activity.
2: Memphis Metro Area
The Memphis metro area, which encompasses regions in Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas, scored 84.88 points overall on the obesity and overweight scale, positioning it as the second city with the highest rates.
It registered the third-highest rate of fitness and health consequences among the studied areas. This indicates that residents in the Memphis area may be suffering from serious weight-related health issues.
Specific health concerns mentioned include high cholesterol, diabetes, and a general pattern of low healthy food consumption among its population.
3: Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama, despite being recognized as the birthplace of Mardi Gras, carries a notable burden of weight-related issues, ranking as the second city with the highest population of obese and overweight residents in the study.
The city received an overall score of 84.52 points. While it holds a high overall ranking, Mobile placed 21st in terms of food and fitness, which helped place it firmly in the third position among cities with the most overweight and obese residents.
4: Knoxville, Tennessee
The steadily growing Knoxville metro area in Tennessee exhibits a troubling rate of health consequences directly linked to obesity.
According to the study, no other metro area ranked higher in this critical category. This alarming statistic suggests that a substantial portion of Knoxville’s residents are experiencing severe health issues as a result of their weight.
Common conditions identified include high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Knoxville’s overall score on the overweight and obesity scale was 84.31 points.
5: Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, concludes the list of the top five most overweight and obese cities identified in the WalletHub study.
With an overall score of 84.18 points, Jackson faces considerable challenges regarding its residents’ weight.
The study specifically highlighted Jackson’s ranking as the sixth-worst in the health consequences category.
This indicates that a significant segment of its population is suffering from adverse health outcomes and conditions directly attributable to obesity, posing a major public health concern.
6: Chattanooga Metro Area
Another fast-growing Tennessee city, the Chattanooga metro area, which also extends into Georgia, was included in WalletHub’s study.
This area received the most weighted points for its rate of obese and overweight residents. Furthermore, Chattanooga scored highly for its health consequences and inadequate healthy food and fitness.
These combined factors indicate a severe situation where a high prevalence of obesity is compounded by poor health outcomes and limited access to nutritious food options and opportunities for physical activity among its residents.
7: Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, Arkansas
Of the 100 metros analyzed in WalletHub’s study, the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway area in Arkansas stood out significantly.
It ranked highest for both the current share of overweight residents and the projected obesity rate by 2030.
This suggests a concerning trajectory where the existing weight issues are anticipated to worsen in the near future.
Additionally, the study noted a significant lack of access to healthy food in many areas within this metro, likely contributing to its high obesity figures. The area scored 83.74 points overall.
8: Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana
The Shreveport-Bossier City metro area in Louisiana achieved an overall score of 83.46 points, placing it among the top ten for multiple obesity-related metrics.
This region is notable for being the fourth-worst overall regarding health consequences for its residents.
This high ranking in health consequences signifies that a substantial number of individuals in Shreveport-Bossier City are experiencing severe health issues directly linked to obesity.
These health problems contribute significantly to the overall burden of disease in the area, highlighting an urgent public health concern.
9: Birmingham-Hoover, Alabama
While downtown Birmingham is often celebrated as a “hidden gem of a foodie city,” the broader Birmingham-Hoover metro area in Alabama presents a contrasting health picture.
The study highlights the presence of considerable food deserts within this sprawling metro area. These areas, characterized by limited access to affordable and nutritious food, contribute significantly to poor health consequences for its residents.
The Birmingham-Hoover metro area received an overall score of 82.37 points in the WalletHub study, reflecting the widespread weight-related challenges its population faces.
10: Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, completes the list of the top ten southern cities grappling with high obesity rates.
With an overall score of 81.64 points, the city confronts several multifaceted obesity-related problems. Notably, Columbia ranks as the seventh-worst in the nation for the food and fitness category.
This poor ranking is attributed to a combination of factors, including limited access to healthy foods for its residents and a significant prevalence of physically inactive adults within the city. These issues collectively contribute to its high obesity rates and associated health concerns.
Alicia Richards