The 8 Most Artery-Clogging Cities In The U.S.

By Celeste Perron Oberfest for Prevention.com

These urban centers have the highest rates of heart disease and obesity in the country, perhaps because they seem to promote sedentary lifestyles and diets heavy on fast food but light on fresh produce.

Prevention.com sorted through the latest statistical research from the CDC on obesity and heart disease rates to come up with this list of eight metropolitan areas with a population of over 200,000 that are most likely to clog your arteries. And because studies show that unhealthy habits are contagious, anybody moving to or spending time in these places should be extra careful to take care of their tickers.

Click over to Prevention.com for the original article and more info on protecting your heart.

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Comments

[Jenny M Derfler]

06:58 PM on 12/06/2011

P.S. Any city that has more than enough Arby's (for dinner) and Dairy Queen's (for dessert, b/c their regular fast food sucks) in my kind of city!

[Jenny M Derfler]

06:52 PM on 12/06/2011

OMG!! My mom's hometown is #2 :O!!

[Xanadutu]

03:01 AM on 12/04/2011

Looks like the SOUTH finally WON (on something!!)

[stdman]

06:50 PM on 12/03/2011

i would expect this from the cities listed!

[louisshowalter]

05:52 PM on 12/03/2011

Seems that a lot of people have never heard of the Pauling/Fonorow method of controlling Arterial plaque buildup.

[bmitche]

02:22 PM on 12/03/2011

I was expecting to see Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia on the list.

[zcapitalism]

03:02 PM on 12/03/2011

I couldnt see the whole list but I didnt see any of those though Im in Georgia.The food here is FANTASTIC but it will KlLL you.....EARLY in life.

[bmitche]

03:09 PM on 12/03/2011

I know what you mean. I have a relative living there, and she still bakes fresh biscuits for breakfast every morning.

[vieragam]

01:13 PM on 12/03/2011

AOL listed the most unhappiest cities in America this week...approx 1/2 were in FL...where my familiy lives. Maybe Floridians should start eating all this yummy bad for you food. LOL...make everyone a lot happier! ...just kidding...

[riverdaughte3]

01:13 PM on 12/03/2011

With what is known about the risk of life threatening diseases and obesity, with the massive media effort to educate the general public; there is no excuse for the preponderance of obesity in our country today. It is a symptom of self-indulgence and laziness and it is costing society massive amounts of money that cannot be afforded. A different insurance premium and deductible penalty for people who are obese, and smokers might instill some self-discipline because it will hit people in their wallets.

[neutralslamm]

12:28 PM on 12/03/2011

The Chicken Shacks are doing well in Detroit.

[detroit2]

08:12 PM on 12/05/2011

please mr stereotyper, tell me how Chicken Shacks are causing obesity in Detroit when the vast majority of them are actually in the burbs and not in the city limits? I find it funny that you repeatedly mention Chicken Shack as if you are being sarcastic but you're really just making yourself look stupid

[Roland Drummond]

10:57 AM on 12/03/2011

Great! Another thing that Detroit is at the top of. Add this to violence and unemployment. Ahhh...this sure is a great place to live and raise a family!

[neutralslamm]

12:16 PM on 12/03/2011

Detroit has never been a nice place to raise a family, even when the State was doing well.

[neutralslamm]

12:18 PM on 12/03/2011

MI

[detroit2]

08:13 PM on 12/05/2011

Really? please tell that to my family

[mccglf]

10:16 AM on 12/03/2011

Another innane list. Geography has NOTHING to do with heart disease. Diet has everything to do with it. Certain ethnic foods and virtually ALL prepared foods are the root cause. The obsession with creating lists like this one is a painful attempt by writers to attract attention.

[neutralslamm]

12:23 PM on 12/03/2011

Ya, ethnic foods, ahhhh, like Chicken Shack, McDonalds, Burger King, etc.

[smeeg]

04:25 PM on 12/03/2011

Whataburger!!!!!

[HerrMonk]

05:43 PM on 12/06/2011

Most ethnic food is pretty terrible for you.

Ethnic food from Inuit/Siberian tribes, and some Pacidic islanders are the main exceptions. The rest tends to be based around cereals.

[neutralslamm]

12:26 PM on 12/03/2011

The local population is overrun with grossly obese people, especially women, and they call it "baby got back".

[neutralslamm]

12:30 PM on 12/03/2011

More like baby got bacon back

[detroit2]

08:13 PM on 12/05/2011

no one says baby got back anymore

[kltty13]

09:22 AM on 12/03/2011

Cloggred arteries get clogged for a few reasons. Although Hereditary reasons are up there, hardening of the arteries can be reversed. The cities mentioned are loaded with people who fry foods. Ignorance in healthy cooking skills is a main culprit for death by heart. If you fry, you die.

[360Dunk]

10:02 AM on 12/03/2011

Exactly why I don't shop at Fry's Electronics.

[theodoricofyorke]

08:35 AM on 12/03/2011

Where on earth does HuffPo come up with these ridiculous headlines? So now CITIES are responsible for people's clogged arteries? All along I thought clogged arteries were the fault of their owners based on the bad foods that they consumed and their desire to sit on their big fat butts all day long. Who knew?

[grod805]

11:34 AM on 12/06/2011

You can't ignore people's surroundings. If the only places to eat around you are fast food, you'll most likely eat there. If there are healthy options you will eat there. There is personal responsibility at hand but people will often take the most convenient option.

[theodoricofyorke]

12:24 PM on 12/06/2011

Stop making excuses for people's bad decisions. No one is holding a gun to these poor eaters' heads and forcing them to eat here or buy there. If there is a preponderance of junk food outlets in someone's area, then cook healthier meals at home - it is a lot cheaper - or move somewhere else. I am tired of people making excuses and blaming others for problems that are clearly of their own creation and for which they refuse to take responsibility. Either get with the program and take steps to fix yourself or get ready for an early funeral.

[seegray]

11:39 PM on 12/02/2011

Yay! My state has two cities on the list!!

Oh, wait...

[crazee4canasta]

09:56 PM on 12/02/2011

THAT'S ALL THE BUSCUIT AND GRAVY LOL
SO YUMMY