Augusta needs to lose weight, ranking top 5 in ‘America’s fattest cities’

The Mayo Clinic defines obesity as a complex disease involving too much body fat. The problems it creates go beyond the cosmetic looks, increasing patients’ risks of liver disease, sleep apnea, certain cancers, and other conditions. So where is it the biggest problem?

On Monday, WalletHub released its list of the ‘fattest cities in America.’ This looked at number of residents who are overweight, diabetic, have high blood pressure, and/or have heart disease as well as obesity-related death rates, access and consumption healthy foods, number of health educators, access to recreational facilities, and similar metrics.

Obesity in Augusta

Augusta is not only the fattest city in Georgia, it’s one of the fattest in the U.S. ranking No. 5. The Garden City had the second highest percentage of diabetic adults in the nation.

Obesity in Georgia

The only other Georgia city to make the list was Atlanta in the No. 56 spot overall. The capital city ranked in the bottom 20 for food and fitness, but was in the top 30 for sheer obesity and overweight resident numbers.

According to body mass index data from the CDC, as of 2024, almost 70% of Georgians are overweight and just over one-third are obese. However, the accuracy of BMI has become controversial. If you want better information about your weight and where it stands, talk to your doctor.

What are the ‘fattest cities in America?’

1. Little Rock, Arkansas
2. McAllen, Texas
3. Memphis, Tennessee
4. Jackson, Mississippi
5. Augusta, Georgia

What is the healthiest city in US?

1. Honolulu, HI
2. Denver, CO
3. Seattle, WA
4. Colorado Springs, CO
5. San Jose, CA

Average US weight

According to the CDC, the average weight for American men is 199 pounds and for women it’s 171.8 pounds.

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.