MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee was ranked as one of the unhealthiest cities in a new study by Forbes Advisor.

The Brew City ranked second in a comparison of 46 of the most populated cities which had available data, with Detroit ranking as the most unhealthy.

What You Need To Know

  • Milwaukee ranked second in a study of the unhealthiest cities in the U.S.

  • The report looked at several unhealthy lifestyle habits that can lead to chronic health conditions like heart disease, cancer and diabetes

  • Rates of binge drinking and opioid overdoses were two of the bigger reasons why Milwaukee earned its high ranking

  • To view the full report, click here

The report looked at several unhealthy lifestyle habits that can lead to chronic health conditions like heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Here are the eight key metrics it focused on:

  • Number of heart disease deaths per 100,000 residents
  • Number of opioid overdose deaths per 100,000 residents
  • Percentage of adults with diabetes
  • Percentage of adults with high blood pressure
  • Percentage of adults who report binge drinking
  • Percentage of adults who report having obesity
  • Percentage of adults who report smoking
  • Percentage of adults who report physical inactivity

As the city’s popular nickname suggests, part of the reason Milwaukee was ranked second unhealthiest was the high rate of binge drinking among adults. The study found that 22.6% of adults have reported binge drinking. It comes as no surprise, as Milwaukee has been deemed in multiple studies as the “drunkest city in America.”

Opioid overdoses, which have become a major problem statewide, were another top reason for the city’s ranking.

There were 548 opioid deaths in Milwaukee County in 2022, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The amount of opioid-related deaths across the state has continued to climb over several decades, going from a mere 111 in 2000 to well over 1,000 in 2022.

The study by Forbes found that the city of Milwaukee had the highest number of opioid overdose deaths per 100,000 residents, sitting at 59.2. The city has a population of 561,385, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Here are some of the other measures that make Milwaukee the second unhealthiest:

  • Fourth-highest percentage of adults who report having obesity (40.4%)
  • Fourth-highest percentage of adults who report smoking (20.3%)
  • Seventh-highest percentage of adults with high blood pressure (33.5%)
  • Ninth-highest number of heart disease deaths per 100,000 residents (262.3)”

As for where you can find the healthiest cities, San Jose, Austin, Seattle, San Diego and Denver ranked in Forbes’ top five.

To view the full report, click here.

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