It has been dubbed the fast food capital of America, with residents spending more than twice the national average ($148) on fast food per month.
Despite Plano, Texas being known for its consumption of mostly unhealthy processed foods, it holds a unique distinction. The city boasts one of the highest life expectancies in the United States.
With a life expectancy of 82.2 years, Plano secures the second position, following closely behind Arlington, Virginia, where residents lived an average of 85.3 years in 2024.
To unravel the mystery behind Plano’s status as a longevity hub despite its affinity for fast food, fitness enthusiast and YouTuber Will Tennyson from Canada decided to explore the city. Plano, located just 20 miles north of Dallas, surprised Tennyson with what he discovered during his visit.
Offering his initial impression of the city as he drives through, he comments: ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much concentration of fast food restaurants in my entire life!’
DailyMail.com counted more than 180 fast food spots in the 71.7-square-mile city, with some of the bigger chains including In-N-Out Burger, Raising Cane’s, Chick-fil-A and Whataburger.
Many of these are drive-thru locations, and Tennyson points out that Plano is consistently recognized as one of the most car-dependent cities in the US.
At one of his first stops, the YouTuber starts learning more about the fast food culture in Plano, which sets it apart from other cities and could explain how it has become a longevity hotspot.
In a bid to find out how Plano has become a longevity hotspot in the shadow of its appetite for fast food, Canadian fitness YouTuber Will Tennyson paid the metropolis a visit and he was shocked by what he found
Plano has a life expectancy of 82.2 years, putting it just behind Arlington in Virginia whose residents lived an average of 85.3 years in 2024
At Olive Burger, an independent family-owned fast food restaurant, Tennyson discovers that the lettuce wraps outsell traditional buns, as do sweet potato fries over regular fries.
After feasting on an array of goods, he concludes: ‘Everything tasted so much fresher and nowhere near as oily as traditional fast food.’
But even when he heads to some of Plano’s better-known fast food joints, he discovers that the consumers seem more health conscious about what they are putting in their bodies.
At CosMc’s – which is a beverage-focused concept from McDonald’s – Tennyson is surprised to find a range of healthier options including energy shots and vitamin C shots that can be added to beverages.
He also puts in an order for a turmeric oat latte, with the spice touted as a magic bullet for joint pain, eczema and even depression.
The YouTuber is joined for lunch by a local resident named Alex, who explains that the city is very ‘image driven’ and it is mostly populated by large families.
He adds that most people in the area see fast food as healthy and when they visit popular chains, the choices they make are ‘usually on the healthier side’.
Following his visit to Olive Burger, Tennyson goes on to discover lettuce wraps are hugely popular in Plano.
The YouTuber is joined for a fast food lunch by a local resident named Alex, who explains that the city is very ‘image driven’
A local man named Josh confirms that lettuce burger buns has been a big trend he has seen in Plano, which he dubs ‘protein style’
At Olive Burger, an independent family-owned fast food restaurant, Tennyson discovers that the lettuce wraps outsell traditional buns, as do sweet potato fries over regular fries
Another local man named Josh confirms that this has been a big trend he has seen in Plano, which he dubs ‘protein style’, and when he travels outside the city, he doesn’t see people swapping buns for lettuce.
One man Tennyson speaks to in a local gym says his go-to meal at In-N-Out Burger comprises two triple patty burgers wrapped in lettuce.
He also always requests no salt to help keep his blood pressure in check and to reduce the risk of heart attack.
Two other interviewees explain that when they go to fast food restaurants, they also order with the health of their bodies in mind.
One man says when he goes to In-N-Out Burger he likes to order eight burger patties with no bun or cheese or fries on the side.
He says for around $12, the meal is a bargain and it provides around ’70g to 80g of protein’.
Revealing another reason why he opts for the fast food joint, he adds: ‘I mean [at] In-N-Out they don’t use any oil in the griddle, so it’s just straight beef.’
DailyMail.com counted more than 180 fast food spots in the 71.7-square-mile city, with some of the bigger chains including In-N-Out Burger, Raising Cane’s, Chick-fil-A and Whataburger
Offering his initial impression of the city as he drives through, Tennyson comments: ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much concentration of fast food restaurants in my entire life!’
In Plano, 23 percent of the city’s population is Asian and, in general, ‘Asian-Americans tend to live longer than other racial and ethnic groups in the US thanks to factors like genetics’
Similarly, another customer at the fast food outlet says he loves to get two double doubles (a burger with two beef patties) and fries, as this will satisfy his protein intake.
Along with being home to more health conscious consumers, Tennyson looks at other reasons as to why Plano might have such a high life expectancy.
He goes on to discover that 23 percent of the city’s population is Asian and, in general, ‘Asian-Americans tend to live longer than other racial and ethnic groups in the US thanks to factors like genetics’.
Another factor promoting health, Tennyson says, is the fact that 82 percent of Plano residents live within a 10-minute walking distance of a park.
The content creator muses: ‘I would assume [this] would promote more physical activity and it would probably explain why it’s the second happiest city in America.’
‘Everything tasted so much fresher and nowhere near as oily as traditional fast food,’ Tennyson said of his visit to local fast food joint, Olive Burger
Following his trip to the Texan city of Plano, Tennyson says that he learned how the residents, ‘although they’re not making the best option, they’re making a smarter option’
Continuing on the subjects of Plano’s open spaces, he says: ‘Plano has over 85 parks, 4,000 acres of green space and extensive trails for walking, running and biking.
‘The city invests in outdoor recreation, which is why they rank near the top in the country for park access which definitely contributes to their rank as the sixth healthiest city in America.’
Following his trip to the Texan city of Plano, Tennyson says that he learned how the residents, ‘although they’re not making the best option, they’re making a smarter option’.
He concludes: ‘The people of Plano have cracked the code.
‘Fast food doesn’t have to be unhealthy and big portions don’t mean eating it all at once.
‘With a thriving economy and fitness-focused community, the [residents are] proving that balance is possible. Maybe the secret isn’t avoiding fast food but rather knowing how to do it right.’
