These Are the 15 Least Healthy Cities in America

Memphis, Tennessee

Rock ‘n roll may be Memphis’ claim to fame, but very few claim health care benefits in this city. In fact, it’s the worst-ranked in the country for access to health care, according to a recent study by WalletHub, which based its score on the mental and physical health of the city’s residents, cost of medical and doctor’s visits, insurance coverage, and the quality of its public hospital system, among other metrics. One reason their health care might be so poor: Memphis lacks green space, which has been shown to encourage people to spend more time on the move. “Living in close proximity to green space correlates to better health outcomes,” says Tomar Pierson-Brown, director of the Health Law Clinic in the School of Law at University of Pittsburgh. Here’s how to get off the couch and get outside.