MCALLEN, Texas – The personal finance website Wallet Hub released it’s recent report

of the fattest and obese cities in America. Landing the McAllen Metro area as number one in the nation. However, city leaders disagree with the recent ranking and say it is extremely misleading.

Mayor Jim Darling, “It’s statistics and I don’t think it really shows what we’re all about. I think there are other factors that are involved.”

The report compared 100 of the most populated metro areas in 19 key metrics including: obesity rates, fruit and vegetable consumption, share of diabetic adults and inactivity rates.

Xochitl Mora, Director of Communications, City of McAllen, “For the city of McAllen, once again we see this survey, we feel it is extremely misleading about the actual activities and health and wellness and well-being of our community.”

City leaders say after topping the list three years ago, McAllen has take a proactive approach to healthy living. Creating the Live Well McAllen website, hosting monthly free activities, partnerships with McAllen ISD and the mayor’s wellness council.

Mora says, “That is a coalition of city employees as well as community members who are actively involved in health and wellness activities.”

The city of McAllen also just won the It’s Time Texas Community Challenge for a third straight year. Finishing with the highest number of points in the state, the challenge measures active minutes and pounds lost of participants’ metrics. The city says the metrics are not being gauged or looked at by the survey.

Mayor Darling adds, “I’m just kind of disappointed that all that the effort we have done still gets that label. I feel that it’s still a little misleading of what our community is all about.”

Mayor Darling invites Wallet Hub to come down to visit McAllen. City leaders add they will soon unveil new initiative programs aimed at healthy living.

To review WalletHub’s findings: https://wallethub.com/edu/fattest-cities-in-america/10532/