Newton, Cambridge, Boston Rank Low in Obesity

By Charlene Arsenault (Patch Staff)

In a list led by Provo-Orem, UT, Boston-Cambridge-Newton ranked high in a report of the country’s metro areas with the smallest weight problems.

It’s National Nutrition Month, and WalletHub analyzed 100 of the most populated metro areas in the country “to identify those where weight-related problems call for heightened attention.”

Using 12 key metrics that include percentages of adults and high school students who are obese and the percentage of people who are physically inactive, Boston-Cambridge-Newton came in at No. 11. With 1 being the least, the area got a 24 for obesity prevalence and 5 for unhealthy habits and consequences. With 1 being the most, the area got 27 for healthy environment.

Some more WalletHub findings for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area:

• 4th – Percentage of Adults Who Are Obese
• 23rd – Percentage of Residents Who Are Physically Inactive
• 7th – Percentage of Residents with High Cholesterol
• 22nd – Percentage of Adults Eating Less than 5 Servings of Fruits/Vegetables per Day
• 12th – Percentage of Residents with Diabetes
• 15th – Percentage of Residents with High Blood Pressure

The United States is at the bottom of the global obesity scale, and WalletHub reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that more than a third of American adults and around 17 percent of younger people were obese in 2012. The trend continues to rise, and estimates state that $210 billion is spent annually on obesity-related treatments.

Read the whole report here.