Texas Ranks Among The 10 Most Overweight States In America

Everything is bigger in Texas, even the people.

Are you concerned about your weight? Apparently, plenty of Texans have reason to be.

Let's just come right out with it: Texas ranked #10 on a list of the Most Overweight and Obese States in America.

I'm actually going to go on record and say I'm surprised. Not because Texas ranked so high, but because I would have guessed we'd be even closer to the top. I'm not exactly shocked that we made the list.

Texas Ranks 10th In Obesity & Overweight Citizens

Before we get into how we ended up here, let's look at the states that beat us in the battle of the bulge.

1. West Virginia

2. Mississippi

3. Arkansas

4. Louisiana

5. Alabama

6. Tennessee

7. Kentucky

8. Maine

9. Delaware

10. Texas

There are some familiar names on that list, but Maine and Delaware really surprised me. I also would have guessed that Oklahoma, which came in at #11, and New Mexico, at #21, would have finished higher.

How Did Texas Get So High On The List?

Let's take a closer look at the WalletHub study and see what's going on.

The rankings were based on three major categories: Obesity and Overweight Prevalence, Health Consequences, and Food and Fitness.

Those categories included smaller measurements such as the percentage of overweight adults and children, hypertension rates, nutritional habits, and other health-related factors.

In other words, this wasn't just somebody looking around at a barbecue restaurant and counting belt notches. The rankings considered a variety of factors that contribute to weight problems and their consequences.

Maybe It's Time For Texas To Lighten Up

Even with all those different measurements, coming in at #10 isn't exactly something to celebrate. It still puts Texas firmly among the most overweight states in the country.

Of course, we're a state that loves our barbecue, chicken-fried steak, Tex-Mex, and portions big enough to feed a small family. I'm not suggesting we give up any of those things, but maybe a little moderation wouldn't hurt.

Maybe it's time for Texas to go on a diet.

Or at least order the small queso once in a while.