NYC vs Houston: Lifestyle Impacts on Obesity
How Your Environment Shapes Your Health (Without You Realising)
New York City has an obesity rate that’s about a third lower than Houston’s. Both are major U.S. cities.
So what’s the difference? After spending time in both places, I couldn’t help but notice something. Not about the people, or the culture, or the food (though we’ll get to that), but about how your environment quietly guides your behaviour.
Not in obvious ways, either. It’s subtle. But over time? It stacks up. Here’s what I noticed…
1. Walking vs. Driving
In New York, you walk. Sometimes because you want to. Most of the time because you have to.
You walk to the train. You walk to work. You walk to get your overpriced bagel that you swore you’d stop buying (again). Even if you don’t go out of your way to be active, you’re kind of forced into a baseline level of movement.
Houston flips that on its head.
The city is massive and spread out. You need a car for nearly everything—even visiting your neighbour might involve a short drive. Movement becomes a choice. And most people, understandably, opt out.
One city builds walking into your daily life. The other makes you go looking for it.
2. The Weather
NYC winters are cold, but summer? Mostly fine. You might sweat a little, but you’re not sprinting from one air-conditioned building to another like your life depends on it.
Houston, though? August feels like walking into a hairdryer while wrapped in clingfilm (and no, I don't know how I thought of that either).
Even a short trip outside can make you feel like you need another shower—and you just had one.
And when the weather feels like it’s attacking you, what do you do? You stay inside. And the less you go outside, the less you move.
3. The Food Scene
Both cities are food heavens. But they offer very different temptations.
New York? You can find kale smoothies, $18 quinoa bowls, halal carts, 24-hour delis, five salad bars in a single block, and everything in between. You can eat clean, indulgent, or somewhere in the middle. There’s variety.
Houston? You’ll find flavour. Big portions. Tex-Mex. BBQ. Chicken-fried everything. Honestly? Delicious. But it’s also a place where “a bit much” is the norm.
I’m not saying one is better than the other. But one does make moderation harder.
If you struggle with feeling full or knowing how to balance meals, especially when you’re surrounded by temptation, here’s something that helps nearly everyone: eat more protein.
Protein helps with appetite, weight control, and staying satisfied between meals. If that’s an area you’re struggling with, grab my free Protein Cheat Sheet here. It’s simple, useful, and actually doable.
4. Public Transport (AKA Movement in Disguise)
New York’s subway isn’t winning any awards for cleanliness, but it gets the job done. You walk to the station. You walk from the station. And then you walk some more. Even just running errands adds up to thousands of steps per day.
Houston? Not the same. Public transport is limited. There’s no subway. There’s no real reason not to drive.
The difference? One city sneakily adds movement into your life. The other demands you plan it manually.
So, What’s the Point?
This isn’t a hit piece on Houston. Or a love letter to New York.
It’s just an honest reflection of what I’ve seen and felt firsthand.
It can shape your habits before you even realise what’s happening. Some places gently nudge you toward healthier patterns. Others make you work harder to get there.
But here’s what’s more important: your choices still matter most.
You can be healthy in Houston. You can be unhealthy in New York. It all depends on how intentional you are.
But if this helped you realise that your environment is quietly influencing your behaviours—maybe more than you thought—then it’s worth thinking about.
And if you want help building habits that stick, even when your environment makes it harder, then that’s exactly what I cover in my debut book: Your Fat Loss Journey Starts Here
It’s not another diet manual. In it, I provide strategies, tips for habit building, and how to take control—even when life (and your postcode) are working against you.
Because contrary to what some online gurus might say, fat loss isn’t just about food and exercise. It’s about behaviour, psychology, and momentum.
And if that resonates with you, you’ll love what’s inside.
You can click here to check it out.
Speak soon,
Leo
