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The Only 12 Cities in the US with Obesity Rates Under 25%

The Only 12 Cities in the US with Obesity Rates Under 25%

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Obesity is one of the most serious health issues in the United States. The problem is more acute in Southern, Midwest, and Plains states. Coastal states and cities with a significant college presence have lower obesity prevalence.

The U.S. has one of the highest obesity rates in the world, and in many metros on this list, over 40% of the adult population are obese. Using data from the 2023 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 24/7 Tempo identified the metropolitan areas in the United States where the obesity rate is under 25%.  The age-adjusted percentage of the total population 20 years and over diagnosed with diabetes in 2018, the latest year for which data is available, also came from the 2023 CHR. Data on people in poor or fair health, who don’t exercise regularly and who don’t sleep more than seven hours a night also came from the CHR. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said obesity is among the leading causes of death, including fatalities from diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer. (Also See The Most Common Cancers in Every State.)

According to the agency’s data, obesity prevalence in the U.S. was 41.9%. The trend is not good. According to Trust for America’s Health’s analysis of CDC data, in 2022, 22 states had an adult obesity rate at or above 35%, up from 19 the previous year. In 2012, no state had an adult obesity rate over 35%.

The agency said medical costs for adults who were obese were $1,861 higher than medical costs for those whose weight was deemed healthy. (Also See Warning Signs You Might Have Diabetes.)

Of the 12 cities on the list with obesity rates under 25%, Colorado has the most of any state with three — Boulder, Fort Collins, and Denver-Aurora-Lakewood. Boulder had the lowest rate in the four categories listed. The state has a reputation as home to the most livable cities in the country, and Colorado is famous for its outdoor activities. 

States with two cities each on the list are California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.

Another feature of some of the cities on the list with low obesity rates is that they are college destinations: Burlington, Vt.; Boston-Cambridge, Mass.; San Francisco-Berkeley, Calif.; and Boulder.

Here are the only 12 cities in the US with obesity rates under 25%.

Pittsfield, MA

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
  • Obesity rate among adults: 24.70%
  • Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 19.60% — 318 out of 384 metros (US avg: 22.2%)
  • People over 20 with diabetes: 7.60% — 367 out of 384 metros (US avg: 8.9%)
  • Adults in poor or fair health: 11.10% — 342 out of 384 metros (US avg: 12.0%)
  • Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 31.30% — 312 out of 384 metros (US avg: 33.0%)

Burlington-South Burlington, VT

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
  • Obesity rate among adults: 24.40%
  • Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 15.20% — 379 out of 384 metros (US avg: 22.2%)
  • People over 20 with diabetes: 6.50% — 383 out of 384 metros (US avg: 8.9%)
  • Adults in poor or fair health: 9.10% — 383 out of 384 metros (US avg: 12.0%)
  • Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 27.00% — 378 out of 384 metros (US avg: 33.0%)

Urban Honolulu, HI

Source: Allison Tackette / iStock via Getty Images

Source: Allison Tackette / iStock via Getty Images
  • Obesity rate among adults: 24.30%
  • Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 19.80% — 312 out of 384 metros (US avg: 22.2%)
  • People over 20 with diabetes: 9.60% — 223 out of 384 metros (US avg: 8.9%)
  • Adults in poor or fair health: 11.40% — 326 out of 384 metros (US avg: 12.0%)
  • Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 42.30% — 2 out of 384 metros (US avg: 33.0%)

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

Source: milehightraveler / iStock via Getty Images

Source: milehightraveler / iStock via Getty Images
  • Obesity rate among adults: 24.00%
  • Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 16.50% — 371 out of 384 metros (US avg: 22.2%)
  • People over 20 with diabetes: 7.60% — 373 out of 384 metros (US avg: 8.9%)
  • Adults in poor or fair health: 10.20% — 370 out of 384 metros (US avg: 12.0%)
  • Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 27.60% — 375 out of 384 metros (US avg: 33.0%)

Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI

Source: Art Wager / E+ via Getty Images

Source: Art Wager / E+ via Getty Images
  • Obesity rate among adults: 23.90%
  • Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 16.30% — 373 out of 384 metros (US avg: 22.2%)
  • People over 20 with diabetes: 8.50% — 320 out of 384 metros (US avg: 8.9%)
  • Adults in poor or fair health: 11.00% — 344 out of 384 metros (US avg: 12.0%)
  • Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 35.60% — 116 out of 384 metros (US avg: 33.0%)

Fort Collins, CO

Source: marekuliasz / iStock via Getty Images

Source: marekuliasz / iStock via Getty Images
  • Obesity rate among adults: 23.90%
  • Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 13.60% — 383 out of 384 metros (US avg: 22.2%)
  • People over 20 with diabetes: 6.90% — 381 out of 384 metros (US avg: 8.9%)
  • Adults in poor or fair health: 9.30% — 381 out of 384 metros (US avg: 12.0%)
  • Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 25.90% — 383 out of 384 metros (US avg: 33.0%)

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
  • Obesity rate among adults: 23.90%
  • Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.60% — 343 out of 384 metros (US avg: 22.2%)
  • People over 20 with diabetes: 7.60% — 372 out of 384 metros (US avg: 8.9%)
  • Adults in poor or fair health: 9.90% — 372 out of 384 metros (US avg: 12.0%)
  • Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 30.40% — 336 out of 384 metros (US avg: 33.0%)

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

San Francisco, California, USA by Pom'
Source: pom-angers / Flickr

San Francisco, California, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Pom’
  • Obesity rate among adults: 23.70%
  • Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 17.60% — 362 out of 384 metros (US avg: 22.2%)
  • People over 20 with diabetes: 8.70% — 294 out of 384 metros (US avg: 8.9%)
  • Adults in poor or fair health: 11.20% — 334 out of 384 metros (US avg: 12.0%)
  • Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 30.00% — 346 out of 384 metros (US avg: 33.0%)

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
  • Obesity rate among adults: 23.50%
  • Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 17.10% — 366 out of 384 metros (US avg: 22.2%)
  • People over 20 with diabetes: 7.20% — 379 out of 384 metros (US avg: 8.9%)
  • Adults in poor or fair health: 9.90% — 373 out of 384 metros (US avg: 12.0%)
  • Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 31.60% — 303 out of 384 metros (US avg: 33.0%)

Santa Fe, NM

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
  • Obesity rate among adults: 21.60%
  • Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.50% — 345 out of 384 metros (US avg: 22.2%)
  • People over 20 with diabetes: 8.30% — 335 out of 384 metros (US avg: 8.9%)
  • Adults in poor or fair health: 12.10% — 299 out of 384 metros (US avg: 12.0%)
  • Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 28.60% — 366 out of 384 metros (US avg: 33.0%)

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
  • Obesity rate among adults: 20.90%
  • Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.60% — 342 out of 384 metros (US avg: 22.2%)
  • People over 20 with diabetes: 8.70% — 303 out of 384 metros (US avg: 8.9%)
  • Adults in poor or fair health: 10.70% — 360 out of 384 metros (US avg: 12.0%)
  • Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 28.80% — 363 out of 384 metros (US avg: 33.0%)

Boulder, CO

Source: pawel.gaul / iStock via Getty Images

Source: pawel.gaul / iStock via Getty Images
  • Obesity rate among adults: 17.60%
  • Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 12.90% — 384 out of 384 metros (US avg: 22.2%)
  • People over 20 with diabetes: 6.20% — 384 out of 384 metros (US avg: 8.9%)
  • Adults in poor or fair health: 8.50% — 384 out of 384 metros (US avg: 12.0%)
  • Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 23.80% — 384 out of 384 metros (US avg: 33.0%)
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