Texas: We Are Fat

Well, folks, we did it. El Paso has secured a solid 20th place ranking on WalletHub’s list of the most obese cities in America. Not exactly the gold medal we were hoping for, but hey, at least we’re not McAllen, which took the top (or should we say, heaviest) spot.

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Texas: The Land of BBQ, Tacos, and… Expanding Waistlines

El Paso isn’t alone in this prestigious ranking—far from it. Texas cities are out here collecting obesity rankings like they’re Pokémon cards. San Antonio rolled in at 13th, Dallas made a respectable 24th, Houston waddled in at 33rd, and Austin, which constantly brags about being the “healthiest” city in Texas, still managed to land at 49th. If nothing else, this list proves one thing: Texas is really, really good at eating.

And can you blame us? Our state has some of the best food in the country. We’ve got brisket so tender it practically melts in your mouth, tacos that could bring a grown man to tears, and more deep-fried delights than should be legally allowed. So what if our arteries are paying the price? That’s a problem for future us.

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The Cost of Being the Best (at Eating)

According to WalletHub, obesity-related medical treatments cost the U.S. around $190.2 billion a year, with another $4.3 billion lost in productivity because people are calling in sick (probably from eating too many Whataburger Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits). The study cites a lack of access to healthy food and recreational spaces as a big factor in the problem. But let’s be real—no one’s reaching for a salad when there’s a perfectly good plate of enchiladas sitting right there.

The Silver Lining (Or Maybe Just More Gravy)

Look, El Paso, we could sit here and feel bad about our ranking, or we could use it as a wake-up call. Maybe we start balancing out the tacos with a few more hikes in the Franklin Mountains. Or maybe we just embrace the fact that good food is part of our culture—no shame in that. Either way, we can probably agree on one thing: life’s too short to skip the salsa.