WalletHub’s 2026 rankings place McAllen among America’s most overweight and obese cities, with 45% of adults classified as obese and major shares also facing diabetes and heart disease risk. El Paso and San Antonio follow in the list, while national top billin
In McAllen, the day-to-day fight against weight isn’t just a personal struggle—it’s showing up on a national scoreboard. A new WalletHub ranking for 2026 lists McAllen as the second-most overweight and obese city in the United States, placing the South Texas metro in the national spotlight.
McAllen earned that placement as the city with the largest percentage of obese adults. The study puts obesity at 45% for McAllen’s adults, with an additional 31% classified as overweight but not obese. It also found McAllen has the second-highest share of obese teenagers.
The report points to health burdens that often travel with those numbers. McAllen has the seventh-highest share of people with diabetes and the fourth-highest heart-disease rate, according to the study. The findings land at a time when many communities across the country are wrestling with public health outcomes tied to diet and activity levels.
WalletHub’s list also pulls other Texas cities into the same national conversation. El Paso ranks at No. 24, and San Antonio ranks at No. 25, in the Most Overweight and Obese Cities in the U.S. for 2026. The top spot in the national ranking goes to Little Rock, Arkansas.
The way WalletHub arrived at its results is built around three dimensions: obesity (the number of overweight adults and children). health consequences (adults with high cholesterol and heart disease). and food and fitness (access to healthy food and parks and recreation). The study examined 100 of the most populated U.S. metro areas.
McAllen’s ranking also appears tied to activity patterns. WalletHub said one reason many people in McAllen are overweight is because residents “don’t exercise very much. ” citing that the city has the highest share of physically inactive adults. The report adds that this may not be entirely anyone’s fault. noting McAllen has the second-lowest percentage of residents who live close to parks or recreational facilities.
For readers looking at what can actually help, the Mayo Clinic’s guidance emphasizes changes that are both practical and measurable: weight-loss programs require people to change eating habits and get more active.
Reducing calories and practicing healthier eating habits are described as key steps in overcoming obesity. The Mayo Clinic says a healthcare professional can help determine daily calorie targets. and it provides typical ranges of 1. 200 to 1. 500 calories for women and 1. 500 to 1. 800 for men. The Mayo Clinic also recommends shifting toward plant-based foods like fruits. vegetables. and whole grains. and choosing lean sources of protein such as beans. lentils. and soy. along with lean meats. It advises that if people like fish, they include fish twice a week.
Salt and added sugar are flagged for limiting. and the Mayo Clinic suggests eating small amounts of fats from heart-healthy sources such as olive. canola. and nut oils. It also recommends limiting sugar-sweetened beverages—or eliminating them—as a way to cut calories. For physical activity, the Mayo Clinic says people with obesity need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.
The numbers from the WalletHub study and the steps outlined by the Mayo Clinic point in the same direction: the work is not just about willpower, but about daily routines—what people eat, how much they move, and what their neighborhoods make possible.
McAllen obesity WalletHub 2026 El Paso overweight cities San Antonio obese cities diabetes heart disease Mayo Clinic weight loss physically inactive adults