Three Tennessee cities are among the fattest in America

NASHVILLE, TN – When it comes to being overweight, one state tips the scales according to a new survey conducted by WalletHub.

While McAllen, Texas was ranked the most overweight and obese city in America, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennesee all ranked in the top ten.

“In order to call attention to the communities where weight-related problems are most prevalent, WalletHub compared 100 of the most populated U.S. metro areas across 19 key metrics,” said Diana Polk, WalletHub Communications Manager. “Our data set ranges from the share of physically inactive adults to projected obesity rates by 2030 to healthy-food access.”

The report shows that eating healthy could have a correlation to wealth, as traditionally healthy and unprocessed foods are more expensive than cheaper processed foods.

Travis Masterson, MS, Ph.D. – Professor; Director of the Health, Ingestive Behavior, and Technology Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University says eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank.

“Start with simple changes to your purchases at the store. There is no need to purchase large amounts of supplements or expensive products with ‘health halos’ like grass-fed beef, oat milk, etc. I would first start by adding in more fruits and vegetables that you are already familiar with and like,” Dr. Masterson said, “This will ensure that you will actually use them and they will not go to waste. Increase the amount that you use or provide yourself within a meal and reduce the amount of less healthy foods. For example, I have a really simple rice, chicken, and broccoli bowl that I love to eat. Over time I have reduced the amount of chicken and rice in the bowl and increased the amount of broccoli. I still get to enjoy the dish as a whole but provide myself with more of the nutrient-rich and low-calorie part of the meal. Looking for low-cost fruits, vegetables, and grains at your grocery store can also be a good way to approach healthy eating. Exploring new foods and experimenting with adding them to your diet can be fun and you can start by buying small amounts of them to test so that you do not end up with a lot of food waste or wasted money.”

“There are 3 main mistakes people make when trying to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The first is that they do not think they need to worry about the calories from drinks. This can be soda, alcohol, or even sports drinks. These are fine as once-in-a-while treats, but they provide little to no benefit and contribute excess energy. Secondly, it is important to figure out a plan that is maintainable in the long term, not just the here and now,” according to Lisa MB Salinas, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Texas: Rio Grande Valley. “Many ‘diets’ can support short-term weight loss but are not manageable over one’s lifetime. The third mistake people make is that they focus only on nutrition or physical fitness. It is important to understand that a healthy lifestyle should incorporate healthy eating, and regular movement and should also address psychological well-being.”