Youngstown one of 2024’s most obese U.S. cities, according to researchers
According to the Food Research and Action Center, over 39% of adults in the U.S. are obese in 2024.
Analysts with WalletHub wanted to see which cities have the highest rates of obesity and risk of weight-related problems.
“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,” said analyst Cassandra Happe.
The World Health Organization defines obesity as having a body mass index of over 30 percent; the national average is 33 percent.
Analysts compiled this list of cities after looking at the number of physically inactive adults, overall access to healthy food, obesity projection and other factors in 100 major cities in the U.S.
Ohio’s already seventh in the nation in adult obesity prevalence, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What’s the worst city for obesity in the U.S.?
Here are the top five cities:
McAllen, Texas
Jackson, Mississippi
Shreveport, Louisiana
Mobile, Alabama
Little Rock, Arkansas
Youngstown ranked number 20 on the list for most overweight and obese cities in the U.S., right after Canton at number 18.
What are some tips for getting into a healthy lifestyle?
March is National Nutrition Month.
Eating healthy can be challenging, but it is possible, according to nutrition expert Dara Ford at American University.
Here are some of her top pieces of advice:
Don’t make unrealistic changes to your diet. “Small, sustainable steps toward a bigger-picture change can have major impacts without feeling so challenging. Many take an all-or-nothing approach which results in feelings of failure,” said Ford.
Look toward food that’s nutritious and packed with protein like rice and grain.
If you can’t get fresh produce, canned and frozen veggies and fruits are another source of nutrition. They have a longer shelf life, and are much lower in cost.
Canned beans are “an excellent source of nutrients, and often are inexpensive. Stocking up when costs are low is a great way to decrease expenditure. Replacing meats with beans lowers the price significantly and increases health outcomes,” said Ford.
Put a meal plan in place. Once that plan is in place, stick to it and shop with a specific list to avoid unplanned costs.
