Georgia has among the unhealthiest cities in the US, new study shows. Here’s where and why

In a recent study by WalletHub , Columbus, Georgia was ranked one of the unhealthiest cities in the nation.

The study includes 182 of the most populated American cities, with Columbus coming in at 179th.

WalletHub is a personal finance website and company that investigates issues to reach “top financial fitness.” They do so by offering various ways to better your life, financially and beyond.

For this survey, they looked at 41 key indicators of good health. Their data “ranges from the cost of a medical visit to fruit and vegetable consumption to the share of physically active adults.”

Among other components, they ranked the cities for their health care , food, fitness, and green space — Columbus did not fare so well.

How did Columbus score on healthcare?

Out of all 182 cities in the study, Columbus ranked dead last with it came to healthcare.

According to the City Health Dashboard , 17.5% of the population doesn’t have health insurance and the average cost of health insurance in Georgia is approximately $5,424 annually.

These numbers most likely contributed to Columbus’ lower ranking in this area.

What is Columbus’ ranking when it comes to food?

Columbus ranked 174th (out of 182) on the availability and consumption of healthy foods .

The study looked at:

• Fruit and vegetable consumption

• The amount of farmer’s markets and healthy restaurants per capita

• Google searches about “healthy eating”

• The share of obese residents.

What is the fitness ranking for Columbus?

Columbus has a ranking of 163 (out of 182) for fitness and physical well-being .

This number includes scores surrounding metrics such as:

• Adults who engage in physical activity

• Fitness centers per capita

• Average cost of fitness-club memberships and personal trainers

• And the number of intramural leagues

How well did Columbus rank for green spaces?

Columbus did better in this area than any other areas of examination, scoring 158 (out of 182).

When calculating the score, researchers looked at:

• Parkland acres per capita and the quality of the parks

• Amount of hiking trails including a “walk” and “bike” score

• Overall “greenness” of the city

• Access to recreation

What are your thoughts on Columbus’ rankings? Do these numbers seem right to you? Sound off in the comments, or you can email me or find me on Instagram .

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