More Than 15% Obese in Nearly All U.S. Metro Areas

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Adult obesity rates were higher than 15% in all but three of 190 metropolitan areas surveyed in 2011, according to a Gallup and Healthways report.

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas, residents—who are predominantly Latino—were the most likely to be obese, at 38.8%.

Nationwide, 26.1% of American adults were obese in 2011.

The Gallup report indicates that the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area pays more than $400 million in unnecessary healthcare costs each year because of its high obesity rate.

“If it reduced the obesity rate to 15%,” according to the report, “the area could potentially save more than $250 million annually.”