These are the healthiest and most unhealthy American cities

The west coast is home to some of the healthiest cities in America.

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "According to a & nbsp;WalletHub study, San Francisco is the healthiest city in the United States, followed by Seattle, San Diego, Portland and Washington, DC "data-reactid =" 16 "> According to a WalletHub study, San Francisco is the healthiest city in the world. United States, followed by Seattle, San Diego, Portland and Washington, DC

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "WalletHub calculated the data by comparing 174 cities out of four. weighted dimensions: & nbsp;Health care, food, fitness and green spaces. "data-reactid =" 17 "> WalletHub calculated the data by comparing 174 cities in four weighted dimensions: health care, food, fitness and green space.

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One of the factors was the lowest premature mortality rate. Almost all major cities are located in California, just like the percentage of adults who consume enough fruits / vegetables a day.

The West Coast also has the highest percentage of physically active adults. It is perhaps for this reason that San Francisco has taken first place: it has the largest number of hiking trails per capita and the largest number of running trails per capita.

The South contains the most unhealthy cities

Meanwhile, the most unhealthy cities in the United States are mostly in the South. Brownsville, Texas, is the healthiest place in the country. Two other Texas cities were on the list, as well as two in Alabama, two in Georgia and two in Mississippi.

"These states in particular have a great [obesity] and I'm sure their physical activity is pretty low, "said Dr. Charles Platkin, director of the Food Policy Center at Hunter College NYC and editor-in-chief of DietDetective.com.

"It's cultural … around food and meals. Probably a more relaxed, more rural atmosphere in some urban centers. Hence high levels of fitness to walk, concerns about healthy eating or lifestyle concerns. While in these states, the number of blue-collar workers is higher. "

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Access to health care is also important. Laredo, Texas, is the second-worst city in the world with the fewest mental health counselors per capita and the smallest number of healthy restaurants per capita. It also has a low percentage of physically active adults.

"My wife's family is from a small town in Kentucky," added Platkin. "They have dentists who come once a year, medical services and they have a health fair. So there is not much access to medical care as in a large urban center. I think the rural environment, the lack of access to medical and mental care, is probably why they are lower because it is an important part of that scale. "

"Eating right can … be a luxury"

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Many of these states have some of the & nbsp;highest levels of poverty& nbsp; in the country. Platkin explained that poverty plays a bigger role in health than many people realize. "Data-reactid =" 67 "> Many of these states have some of the highest levels of poverty in the country, explained.

"When poverty levels are high, it is more than likely that the rates of food insecurity and hunger-related problems are high," he said. "You think" oh well, if they are food insecure and that they have a hunger problem, we will all be skinny, is not it? "No, this is not the case, in fact, it's counterintuitive in some ways, because you tend to eat what you can."

Corpus Christi, Texas, no. Among the most unhealthy cities, 12 has the smallest number of healthy restaurants per capita and the highest percentage of adults not eating enough fruits and vegetables a day.

"Eating healthy can sometimes in the United States, believe it or not, be a luxury and it does not have to be a luxury," said Platkin. "For us, when we talk about food and food insecurity, we consider the right to healthy and cheap food as a human right, but this is not often the case."

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Adriana is associate editor for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @adrianambells."data-reactid =" 71 ">Adriana is associate editor for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @adrianambells.

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