Houston ranks low in health and wellness study by WalletHub

Houston might be home to world-renowned hospitals, but when it comes to overall health and wellness, the city didn’t exactly earn a gold star.

WalletHub compared more than 180 of the most populated U.S. cities across 41 key indicators of good health, from access to nutritious food and recreational facilities to green space and healthcare affordability. The report showed Houston actually fell behind in several major areas, landing among the lower-ranked cities for healthcare access and green space.

The personal finance site compared cities across 41 key health indicators, ranging from fruit and vegetable consumption and physically active adults to the cost of medical visits and access to green space. Other ranking categories included access to nutritious food and recreational facilities.

“Staying healthy is a personal responsibility, and everyone should strive to eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and look after their mental health,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “However, where people live can have a big influence on how successful they are at staying in good health, so the best cities are the ones that provide the greatest access to high-quality healthcare, green spaces, recreation centers, and healthy food.”

Houston landed a more favorable spot in the food and fitness categories, ranking 52nd and 51st, respectively.

So how can cities like Houston move up the list? Experts say it starts at the local level.

“Create and maintain safe green spaces. Support farmers markets and other programs providing access to affordable fresh food,” said Dr. Amy Justice, a professor of medicine and public health at Yale University. “Maintain sidewalks where they exist and create walking paths that are safe and accessible. Bring people together in support of these activities.”

Justice added that long-term investments in personal health often pay off in years lived with independence and vitality.

“Chronologic age is only a number,” she said. “What really matters is physiologic age and that is largely driven by many factors under our control—diet, exercise, sleep, and social connection.”

To read the full WalletHub report and see how other cities fared, click here.