Florida Cities Rank Among Most Obese in the U.S.

ORLANDO, Florida – A recent WalletHub study has examined obesity across the United States, with four Florida cities—Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami—appearing on the list of the nation’s most overweight and obese metro areas in 2025.

The study notes that nearly 42% of U.S. adults are obese, attributing this to factors like the availability of fast food and limited access to healthy options.

Nationally, obesity-related medical costs are estimated at $190.2 billion annually, with productivity losses due to absenteeism totaling $4.3 billion.

WalletHub compared 100 of the most populated U.S. metro areas using 19 key indicators, such as obesity rates, health consequences, and access to food and fitness resources. Here’s how Florida’s cities ranked:

• Orlando, FL (Rank: 62)
  Orlando scores 70.67, ranking 59th in obesity and overweight prevalence, 41st in health consequences, and 70th in food and fitness metrics.
• Jacksonville, FL (Rank: 69)
  Jacksonville scores 69.43, placing 63rd in obesity and overweight prevalence, 70th in health consequences, and 65th in food and fitness.
• Tampa, FL (Rank: 74)
  Tampa scores 68.27, ranking 67th in obesity and overweight prevalence, 57th in health consequences, and 79th in food and fitness.
• Miami, FL (Rank: 88)
  Miami scores 64.08, ranking 76th in obesity and overweight prevalence, 100th in health consequences, and 81st in food and fitness.

Nationwide, McAllen, Texas, tops the list as the most overweight city with a score of 84.90, while Honolulu, Hawaii, ranks last at 100th with a score of 59.10. Florida’s cities fall toward the lower end of the rankings, with Miami performing notably better than many others.

“Obesity is a growing issue nationwide, with significant financial implications,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “In cities where healthy food and exercise options are less accessible, investments in those areas could improve outcomes.”

Methodology

WalletHub’s rankings were based on three dimensions: Obesity and Overweight (60 points), Health Consequences (25 points), and Food & Fitness (15 points). Metrics included the share of obese adults and access to parks, with data collected as of February 17, 2025, from sources like the U.S. Census Bureau and CDC.