Obesity is a global pandemic and a significant public health concern in the United States. The World Health Organization estimated that one in eight people is now living with obesity. Just two years ago, in 2022, 43% of adults were overweight; the stats about worldwide obesity amongst adults have nearly tripled since 1990. In the U.S., four out of five Black women are living with obesity, according to the Office of Minority Health.
Obesity disproportionately affects our community as we have some of the highest rates of obesity or being overweight compared to other groups in the United States. The CDC states that Black adults in the United States have an obesity prevalence of 38 percent among 48 states and D.C. There are a multitude of reasons why obesity is heightened within the U.S., and the array of unhealthy food choices on every corner and highway surely doesn’t help.
Of course, the first step to progress is recognizing the issue and learning about the specifics, and hopefully, this can lead us down the path to finding personal ways to mend obesity within the nation. Below are the top twenty overweight and obese cities in the U.S. for 2024. Put together by WalletHub; this rundown used 19 key metrics across 100 of the most populated cities. Is your city ranked among these 20?
| Overall Rank | Metro Area | Total Score | Obesity & Overweight | Health Consequences | Food & Fitness |
| 1 | McAllen, Texas | 85.54 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | Jackson, Mississippi | 84.58 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 3 | Shreveport, LA | 83.82 | 7 | 4 | 17 |
| 4 | Mobile, AL | 83.11 | 10 | 7 | 11 |
| 5 | Little Rock, Arkansas | 82.31 | 5 | 24 | 7 |
| 6 | Knoxville, Tennessee | 81.71 | 25 | 1 | 18 |
| 7 | Memphis, Tennessee | 81.65 | 23 | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | Lafayette, LA | 81.64 | 8 | 25 | 15 |
| 9 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | 81.28 | 11 | 5 | 26 |
| 10 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | 81.15 | 20 | 8 | 13 |
| 11 | Birmingham, Alabama | 81.02 | 18 | 12 | 3 |
| 12 | Columbia, South Carolina | 80.06 | 21 | 16 | 10 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 80.03 | 9 | 31 | 21 |
| 14 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 79.64 | 6 | 22 | 36 |
| 15 | Fayetteville, AR | 79.34 | 14 | 26 | 28 |
| 16 | Augusta, Georgia | 79.31 | 31 | 13 | 6 |
| 17 | New Orleans, Louisiana | 78.91 | 13 | 23 | 25 |
| 18 | Canton, OH | 78.78 | 39 | 10 | 23 |
| 19 | Wichita, Kansas | 78.39 | 37 | 17 | 12 |
| 20 | Youngstown, Ohio | 78.23 | 22 | 41 | 16 |
While this isn’t a personal attack on any of the cities mentioned, it is a call for awareness. We should strive to improve the health of our cities. Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution for combating obesity, being vocal about this issue can make a difference, whether amongst ourselves, our loved ones, or a broader community.
