100 Fattest Cities in America

The World Health Organization defines overweight as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more and obesity as a BMI of 30 or more Obese patients are further categorized into class I (BMI 30–34.9), class II (BMI 35–39.9) and class III (BMI 40 or more).

Obesity has become a thing of concern in our generation and will likely remain a source of concern in many years to come. About 13% of the world’s adult populations were obese as at 2014 (had BMI≥30Kg/m2) and the proportion of obese individual is fast rising. The comorbidities associated with obesity such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, etc. have remained the leading causes of death worldwide.

United States is One of the Fattest Countries

The U.S. is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and accordingly has high obesity rates; one-third of the population has obesity while another one-third is overweight. The situation is predicted to worsen.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data , more than 41.9% of U.S. adults over 20 are obese. The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008 and the medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight. This cost of obesity-related medical treatment has now increased to nearly $316 billion annually.

Differences however exit among states and among cities as regards the statistics of obesity and associated comorbid conditions.

According to WalletHub finding that was released in March 2017, the list of the 100 fattest cities in the US in 2017 in decreasing order are as listed below.

Our Fattest Cities in the United States

The cities that made the first 10 fattest cities are all in southern part of the US. Jackson is the number one fattest city in the US. It also has the highest number of people with diabetes mellitus (an obesity associated comorbid condition). This city also has the second highest percentage of inactive adult population. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the lowest percentage of adults with diabetes.

Although McAllen came 4th on the list, however, it has the highest number of obese adults and the highest percentage of physically inactive adults. Reno NV has the lowest percentage of obese adults, while San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA has the lowest percentage of physically inactive adults.

Mobile AL has the highest percentage of adults with elevated blood pressure while Salt Lake City UT, has the lowest percentage of adults with elevated blood pressure.

1. Jackson, MS
2. Memphis, TN
3. Little Rock, AR
4. McAllen, TX
5. Shreveport, LA
6. Chattanooga, TN
7. Mobile, AL
8. Lafayette, LA
9. Winston, NC
10. Knoxville, TN
11. Columbia, SC
12. Greenville, SC
13. Birmingham, AL
14. San Antonio, TX
15. Louisville, KY
16. Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC
17. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
18. Okla. City, OK
19. Augusta, GA
20. Baton Rouge, LA
21. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
22. El Paso, TX
23. Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN
24. Tulsa, OK
25. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
26. Toledo, OH
27. Huntsville, AL
28. Greensboro-High Point, NC
29. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
30. Columbus, OH
31. Canton-Massillon, OH
32. Wichita, KS
33. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
34. Lexington-Fayette, KY
35. Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO
36. Fort Wayne, IN
37. Charleston-North Charleston, SC
38. New Orleans-Metairie, LA
39. Jacksonville, FL
40. Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
41. Richmond, VA
42. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-N
43. Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA
44. Asheville, NC
45. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
46. Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, PA
47. Dayton, OH
48. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
49. Worcester, MA-CT
50. Raleigh, NC
51. Kansas City, MO-KS
52. Albuquerque, NM
53. Akron, OH
54. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
55. Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
56. Springfield, MA
57. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
58. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
59. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
60. Portland-South Portland, ME
61. Anchorage, AK
62. Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA
63. Manchester-Nashua, NH
64. Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
65. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
66. New Haven-Milford, CT
67. Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI
68. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
69. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT
70. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
71. Austin-Round Rock, TX
72. St. Louis, MO-IL
73. Ogden-Clearfield, UT
74. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
75. Tampa-St. Petersburg
76. Clearwater, FL
77. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
78. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
79. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
80. Tucson, AZ
81. Cleveland-Elyria, OH
82. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
83. Pittsburgh, PA
84. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
85. Salt Lake City, UT
86. Provo-Orem, UT
87. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
88. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
89. San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
90. Reno, NV
91. Boise, ID
92. Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA
93. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
94. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
95. Honolulu, HI
96. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
97. Colorado Springs, CO
98. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
99. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
100. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
101. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

How Can We Help With Obesity

Obesity really is a problem in the United States and we need to find a way to help with the issue, because it just has become out of control. Not only are adults struggling with their weight, but they are passing it onto their children. People are eating processed foods and are not prioritizing exercise. Many people are turning towards bariatric surgery to help them with their weight.

Why is Bariatric Surgery a Great Choice?

Bariatric surgery is considered a good option for weight loss and the management of obesity-related health conditions for several reasons. It’s important to note that while bariatric surgery can offer significant benefits, it’s typically considered when other weight loss methods have not been successful and the patient’s health is at risk due to obesity. Here are some reasons why bariatric surgery is seen as a beneficial option:

• Effective Weight Loss: Bariatric surgery has been proven to help patients achieve substantial and sustained weight loss. This is particularly important for individuals who have struggled with obesity for years and have not been able to lose weight through diet, exercise, or medication.
• Improvement in Obesity-Related Conditions: It can lead to the improvement or resolution of obesity-related comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and high cholesterol. For some conditions, like type 2 diabetes, the improvement can be so significant that patients may be able to reduce or eliminate the need for medication.
• Increased Longevity: Studies have shown that bariatric surgery can lead to an increase in life expectancy for patients with severe obesity. This is largely due to the reduction in the risk of obesity-related diseases.
• Enhanced Quality of Life: Weight loss and improvement in physical health can lead to enhanced quality of life, including increased mobility, better mental health, and improved self-esteem.
• Economic Benefits: While the upfront costs of bariatric surgery can be high, the long-term savings from reduced healthcare costs related to obesity and its comorbidities can be significant.
• Scientifically Backed: Bariatric surgery is supported by extensive scientific research demonstrating its effectiveness and safety when performed by experienced surgeons and when patients adhere to recommended lifestyle changes post-surgery.
• Psychological Benefits: Many patients experience significant improvements in mood, self-esteem, and overall mental health following surgery, likely due to the weight loss and improvements in health.

We Need to Prioritize Our Health