Recent public health crises, namely the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic, have overshadowed a longer-standing problem in the United States — obesity. Since the early 1960s, the share of American adults under age 75 who are considered obese more than tripled. Currently, an estimated 72.2 million Americans age 20 and up are obese, or 29.7% of the age group.
Obesity status is determined by body mass index, or BMI — a ratio of height to body weight. Americans with a BMI of 30 or higher are considered obese. Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, stroke, hypertension, heart disease, breathing problems, certain cancers, and mortality, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity can also detract from overall quality of life and contribute to depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses.
While the U.S. has one of the highest obesity rates in the world, there are parts of the country where obesity remains relatively uncommon. Using data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 24/7 Tempo identified the least obese metropolitan areas in the United States.
The majority of metro areas on this list are located in the West, including 11 in California and five in Colorado.
Though many factors, including genetics, diet, and medical conditions, contribute to increased risk of obesity, regular physical activity is one of the best ways to help maintain a healthy weight. In all but a handful of metro areas on this list, the share of adults who do not exercise regularly is below the 22.7% share of adults nationwide. Here is a look at the most physically active cities in America.
By some measures, health outcomes are better than average in most of these metro areas as well. For example, obesity is a leading risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, and in nearly all of the metros on this list, diabetes is less common than it is nationwide.
Click here for America’s least obese metro areas
To determine America’s least obese metros, 24/7 Tempo reviewed county-level adult obesity rates from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program’s 2021 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report.
The adult obesity rate is defined as the share of adults 20 years and older who report a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher. We aggregated county-level statistics to metropolitan statistical areas. While the CHR report is from 2021, obesity rate figures are from 2017.
We used the 384 metropolitan statistical areas as delineated by the United States Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau as our definition of metros.
Metros were ranked based on the adult obesity rate. Additional information on the share of adults that report no leisure time physical activity, the share of adults that are diagnosed with diabetes, and the share of adults that report fair or poor health are also from the 2021 CHR.
50. Redding, CA
> Adult obesity rate: 26.6%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 17.0% — 38th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 12.4% — 111th highest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.2% — 140th lowest of 384 metros
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49. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC
> Adult obesity rate: 26.6%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 18.1% — 56th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 9.5% — 105th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.7% — 79th lowest of 384 metros
48. Las Cruces, NM
> Adult obesity rate: 26.4%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 16.1% — 28th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 9.6% — 107th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 23.5% — 33rd highest of 384 metros
47. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
> Adult obesity rate: 26.1%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 15.2% — 17th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.5% — 52nd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.0% — 32nd lowest of 384 metros
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46. Coeur d’Alene, ID
> Adult obesity rate: 26.1%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 19.2% — 75th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 9.1% — 78th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.9% — 84th lowest of 384 metros
45. Bloomington, IN
> Adult obesity rate: 26.1%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 21.3% — 110th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.5% — 51st lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.8% — 161st lowest of 384 metros
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44. Madison, WI
> Adult obesity rate: 25.9%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 15.5% — 20th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 6.6% — 14th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.5% — 9th lowest of 384 metros
43. Portland-South Portland, ME
> Adult obesity rate: 25.9%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 17.4% — 45th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.9% — 70th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.2% — 19th lowest of 384 metros
42. Provo-Orem, UT
> Adult obesity rate: 25.8%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 14.9% — 11th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 6.2% — 9th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.3% — 21st lowest of 384 metros
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41. Grand Junction, CO
> Adult obesity rate: 25.8%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 15.0% — 14th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.6% — 53rd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.6% — 71st lowest of 384 metros
40. Athens-Clarke County, GA
> Adult obesity rate: 25.8%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 24.5% — 164th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 9.2% — 90th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.6% — 145th highest of 384 metros
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39. Albuquerque, NM
> Adult obesity rate: 25.5%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 16.2% — 29th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 7.9% — 32nd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.2% — 167th highest of 384 metros
38. Ann Arbor, MI
> Adult obesity rate: 25.5%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 15.1% — 16th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 7.5% — 26th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.4% — 43rd lowest of 384 metros
37. Bend, OR
> Adult obesity rate: 25.5%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 15.5% — 19th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.5% — 48th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.1% — 58th lowest of 384 metros
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36. Burlington-South Burlington, VT
> Adult obesity rate: 25.4%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 16.6% — 36th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 7.7% — 30th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.8% — 3rd lowest of 384 metros
35. Tucson, AZ
> Adult obesity rate: 25.4%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 19.4% — 76th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.7% — 61st lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.4% — 186th lowest of 384 metros
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34. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
> Adult obesity rate: 25.0%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 24.5% — 166th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 10.8% — 183rd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.5% — 149th highest of 384 metros
33. Logan, UT-ID
> Adult obesity rate: 25.0%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 14.9% — 13th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 6.1% — 6th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.2% — 63rd lowest of 384 metros
32. Salinas, CA
> Adult obesity rate: 24.9%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 19.0% — 71st lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 9.1% — 82nd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 23.6% — 31st highest of 384 metros
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31. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI
> Adult obesity rate: 24.6%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 17.7% — 52nd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 10.3% — 162nd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.7% — 49th lowest of 384 metros
30. Flagstaff, AZ
> Adult obesity rate: 24.5%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 16.5% — 33rd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 7.7% — 29th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.9% — 166th lowest of 384 metros
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29. Urban Honolulu, HI
> Adult obesity rate: 24.4%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 20.0% — 85th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 11.3% — 174th highest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.0% — 133rd lowest of 384 metros
28. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
> Adult obesity rate: 24.4%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 24.2% — 179th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 9.5% — 100th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.2% — 139th lowest of 384 metros
27. Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ
> Adult obesity rate: 24.3%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 22.5% — 150th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 10.9% — 191st lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.7% — 113th lowest of 384 metros
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26. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
> Adult obesity rate: 24.2%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 14.0% — 7th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.0% — 38th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.3% — 159th highest of 384 metros
25. Napa, CA
> Adult obesity rate: 24.1%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 17.6% — 49th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 9.8% — 121st lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.9% — 85th lowest of 384 metros
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24. State College, PA
> Adult obesity rate: 24.0%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 18.3% — 62nd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 7.9% — 35th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.0% — 91st lowest of 384 metros
23. St. George, UT
> Adult obesity rate: 24.0%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 17.4% — 44th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.6% — 55th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.9% — 83rd lowest of 384 metros
22. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
> Adult obesity rate: 23.9%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 18.7% — 70th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.4% — 46th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.3% — 22nd lowest of 384 metros
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21. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
> Adult obesity rate: 23.9%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 15.7% — 23rd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.3% — 45th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.1% — 60th lowest of 384 metros
20. Reno, NV
> Adult obesity rate: 23.7%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 17.9% — 54th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 7.9% — 37th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.1% — 171st lowest of 384 metros
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19. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
> Adult obesity rate: 23.7%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 23.7% — 188th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 10.3% — 163rd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.8% — 118th lowest of 384 metros
18. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL
> Adult obesity rate: 23.0%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 24.1% — 183rd highest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 9.0% — 72nd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 21.7% — 72nd highest of 384 metros
17. Ithaca, NY
> Adult obesity rate: 23.0%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 14.6% — 10th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 6.5% — 11th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.5% — 23rd lowest of 384 metros
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16. Colorado Springs, CO
> Adult obesity rate: 22.9%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 15.6% — 21st lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 6.6% — 15th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.6% — 28th lowest of 384 metros
15. Barnstable Town, MA
> Adult obesity rate: 22.5%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 17.2% — 40th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 10.1% — 146th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.7% — 12th lowest of 384 metros
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14. Naples-Marco Island, FL
> Adult obesity rate: 21.9%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 22.9% — 165th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 9.1% — 80th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.3% — 180th lowest of 384 metros
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13. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
> Adult obesity rate: 21.7%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 15.0% — 15th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 7.4% — 24th lowest of 384 metros
12. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
> Adult obesity rate: 21.6%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 14.2% — 8th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 6.3% — 10th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.7% — 29th lowest of 384 metros
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11. Corvallis, OR
> Adult obesity rate: 21.6%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 13.9% — 6th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 5.7% — 3rd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.1% — 93rd lowest of 384 metros
10. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Adult obesity rate: 21.6%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 16.0% — 25th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.8% — 66th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.2% — 115th highest of 384 metros
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9. Missoula, MT
> Adult obesity rate: 21.4%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 17.9% — 55th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 6.5% — 12th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.2% — 20th lowest of 384 metros
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8. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> Adult obesity rate: 21.2%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 17.3% — 42nd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 7.3% — 23rd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.9% — 5th lowest of 384 metros
7. Fort Collins, CO
> Adult obesity rate: 20.9%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 11.6% — 3rd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 5.4% — the lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.2% — 2nd lowest of 384 metros
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6. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Adult obesity rate: 20.4%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 16.1% — 27th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.5% — 50th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.5% — 46th lowest of 384 metros
5. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
> Adult obesity rate: 20.3%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 14.9% — 12th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 7.6% — 28th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.8% — 81st lowest of 384 metros
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4. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
> Adult obesity rate: 20.2%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 18.1% — 58th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 8.7% — 62nd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.6% — 156th lowest of 384 metros
3. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
> Adult obesity rate: 19.3%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 11.1% — 2nd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 6.2% — 8th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.3% — 99th lowest of 384 metros
2. Santa Fe, NM
> Adult obesity rate: 16.1%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 12.7% — 4th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 6.1% — 7th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.8% — 165th lowest of 384 metros
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1. Boulder, CO
> Adult obesity rate: 14.3%
> Adults who don’t exercise: 8.9% — the lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with diabetes: 5.5% — 2nd lowest of 384 metros
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.2% — the lowest of 384 metros
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