WalletHub just released its list of “2022’s Most Overweight and Obese Cities in the U.S.”, and the Shreveport metro area did not stack up well, being ranked the overall 8th “Fattest City” in the U.S.
WalletHub compared 100 of the most populated U.S. metro areas across nineteen key indicators of weight-related problems to create this list. Here’s how the Shreveport metro area compared to the rest of the cities:
- Percentage of adults with high cholesterol—1st
- Percentage of adults with high blood pressure—2nd
- Percentage of adults with low fruit/vegetable consumption—2nd
- Health consequences—4th
- Obesity & overweight—10th
- Food/fitness related—12th
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), over 40% of Americans are obese which means they have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (“normal” BMI is 18.5 to 24.9). “Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. These are among the leading causes of preventable, premature death,” states the CDC’s website.
Spring is right around the corner, so now is a great time to start getting exercise and eating more fruits and veggies. As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”