What city in America is considered the most obese Why?

Asked by: Jonathon Bashirian  |  Last update: October 20, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (15 votes)

McAllen, Texas, is the most obese and overweight city in the U.S., according to an analysis released March 11 by WalletHub, a personal finance website.

What city in America has the highest obesity rate?

WalletHub last week released its list of the "Most Overweight & Obese Cities in the US" for 2023, with the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan area in Texas claiming the No. 1 spot.

Why is McAllen, Texas so fat?

The McAllen, Edinburg and Mission metro area is ranked as the fattest cities in America, according to a new Wallethub study. "We don't have the choice of healthy meals, and we tend to go for processed foods," South Texas Health System Bariatric surgery Specialist Dr.

Where do the most obese people live in the US?

Across states and territories

Overall, the Midwest (36.0%) and South (34.7%) had the highest prevalence of obesity, followed the West (29.1%) and the Northeast (28.6%). DC and Colorado had an obesity prevalence between 20% and less than 25%.

What is the most obese city in the world?

With a perfect score of 100, Nasinu is one of the most overweight and obese cities in the world. 38.4% of adult women and 28.4% of adult men are obese in Fiji.

I Investigated the Most Obese City in America…

40 related questions found

What country is #1 in obesity?

Samoa is the first country on the list where over have of its adults are obese. The country's obesity rate among adults is 62.4%.

Why is American samoa obese?

The arrival of fast food restaurants and other contemporary food items on the islands are one of the issues responsible for the obesity in Samoa. The earliest photographs of Samoans provide visual proof of the native population's natural physique before the introduction of processed foods by Western society.

Why is McAllen Texas so cheap to live?

There is no income tax in Texas, and property taxes are lower in McAllen. There is plenty of land on which to develop, which helps keep prices more affordable. In addition, McAllen has a lower cost of living, so that coupled with job opportunities helps create a more affordable environment.”

Was there obesity in the 1800s?

The impact of obesity on quality of life began to be appreciated and recorded in the eighteenth century, but only in the middle of the nineteenth century it was recognized as a cause of ill health, and then only in the first decades of the twentieth century were its morbid complications and increased mortality ...

Why is McAllen Texas famous?

Known for its mild winter weather, tropical breezes, brightly colored birds, and low cost of living, it's also a shopping mecca drawing millions of visitors annually to its many shopping districts. Today, McAllen is one of the fastest growing cities in America.

How many McDonald's are in Manhattan alone?

How many McDonald's are there in Manhattan alone? 83 restaurants. Nearly 4 per square mile.

Why is obesity more common in the South?

Southerners have little access to healthy food and limited means with which to purchase it. It's hard for them to exercise outdoors, and even when they do have the opportunity, it's so hot, they don't want to. To combat this affliction, some Southern states have adopted programs to fight rising obesity.

What is the difference between obese and morbidly obese?

Your body mass index (BMI) is the initial factor that determines whether you'll qualify for weight loss surgery. A BMI between 18 and 25 is desirable. A BMI over 25 suggests you're overweight, while 30-39 indicates you're obese. A BMI of 40+ suggests morbid obesity.

What is the healthiest state in America?

Hawaii ranks as the healthiest state with a final score of 79.4. It has the lowest PM2. 5 Annual Average Concentration and a relatively low obesity rate. However, it has a high percentage of adults who get less than 7 hours of sleep and a high percentage of binge-drinking adults.

What state is number 1 in obesity?

West Virginia has the highest adult obesity rate at 41.2% and the District of Columbia (D.C.) has the lowest at 23.5%. Between 2022 and 2023, three states experienced statistically significant increases in their adult obesity rate: Alaska, Arkansas, and Oregon.

Why is Japan's obesity rate so low?

Food prices are substantially higher in Japan, but the traditional Japanese dietary habits, although changing, are also healthier. The Japanese are also far more physically active than Americans, but not because they do more planned physical exercise. They walk more as part of their daily lives.

What weight is considered skinny?

Women with a BMI of less than 18.5 are considered underweight. The average woman's height is 5 feet, 4 inches. If you weigh 107 pounds or less at this height, you are considered underweight with a BMI of 18.4. A healthy weight range for that woman would be 108 to 145 pounds.

What is the life expectancy of a morbidly obese person?

If left untreated, class III obesity may shorten life expectancy up to 14 years. In addition to contributing to potentially serious health problems, class III obesity is associated with reduced economic and social opportunities and reduced quality of life.

What is a healthy waist size for a man?

Are you at risk? Male*: more than 94 cm (37 inches) is increased risk; more than 102 cm (40 inches) is substantially increased risk.

Why are Samoans so buff?

Recently we have suggested that the basis for the phenotypic variation has been climatic: the geographically tropical Pacific was frequently a very cold place for Neolithic Homo Sapiens, with a resulting strong directional selection for a large muscular physique2,3.

Which country is the least obese?

Least Obese Countries in the World
  • Kingdom of Cambodia. ...
  • Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. ...
  • Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. ...
  • Burkina Faso. ...
  • Republic of the Niger. ...
  • People's Republic of Bangladesh. ...
  • Republic of Malawi. Percentage of Obese Adult Males: 2.31% ...
  • Republic of Burundi. Percentage of Obese Adult Males: 2.20%