Methodology

To create the list, WalletHub evaluated 19 metrics across three key dimensions for 100 of the most populated U.S. metro areas:

• Obesity and overweight, including the share of overweight and obese adults, the share of overweight and obese children, and projected obesity rates by 2050 (60 points)
• Health consequences, including the share of adults with high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure (25 points)
• Food and fitness, including the share of adults who are physically inactive, access to healthy food, and access to parks and recreational activities (15 points)

Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most overweight. The weighted average across all metrics was used to calculate a city's overall score, which then determined its ranking on the list. Data for the rankings was collected from several sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CDC, and County Health Rankings.

The most overweight and obese US cities

Based on overall score, Little Rock, Arkansas was the most overweight city in the United States. In comparison, Honolulu, Hawaii, was the least overweight city.

WalletHub also ranked the cities in various other metrics:

• McAllen, Texas, had the highest percentage of obese adults while Asheville, North Carolina, had the lowest.
• McAllen, Texas, had the highest percentage of physically inactive adults while Provo, Utah, had the lowest.
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana, had the highest percentage of adults with low fruit/vegetable consumption while Portland, Maine, had the lowest.
• Memphis, Tennessee, had the highest percentage of adults with diabetes while Bridgeport, Connecticut, had the lowest.

"Obesity is becoming more and more prevalent in the U.S., and it's costing us big time," said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst. "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."

Advisory Board's weight-related resources

To help you address the growing use of weight-management drugs, Advisory Board offers several resources.

This expert insight outlines the five biggest questions about weight management drugs and their answers. Similarly, this expert insight addresses what headlines get wrong about weight management drugs and what healthcare leaders should know instead.

Radio Advisory's Rachel Woods has also covered GLP-1 drugs on the podcast, discussing the potential future of these drugs, how they could help (or hurt) health systems' finances, and what doctors really think about the medication.

Other useful resources include this expert insight on the five catalysts that will impact the future of obesity care and this research on four key elements of comprehensive obesity care. Our weight management and obesity care resource library can also help leaders understand the current care landscape, manage innovations, and prepare for transformations in care.