The Weight of the Nation: The States with Most Obesity in America

😳 All States in the USA have an obesity rate of 20% or more!

Obesity has become an alarming public health crisis in the United States, with far-reaching implications for individuals, communities, and the nation as a whole. In this article, we delve into the data to uncover the most obese state in America, shedding light on the magnitude of the problem.

The Most Obese States in America - A Quick Look

Defining Obesity

Obesity is determined by a parameter called Body Mass Index(BMI). Body Mass Index is a simple calculation using a person’s height and weight. It basically is calculated as

703 x weight (lbs) / [height (in)]2
BMIStatus
Below 18.5Underweight
18.5–24.9Healthy Weight
25.0–29.9Overweight
30.0 and AboveObesity

The Most Obese States in America - List

West Virginia is the state with most obese adults in America, with an obesity rate of 40.6%, followed closely by Kentucky and Alabama, with 40.3% and 39.9%, respectively.

The following table shows the most obese states in America according to CDC Obesity report 2021. You can sort it by clicking on the column header.

RankState/Region% of Obese Adults
1West Virginia40.6
2Kentucky40.3
3Alabama39.9
4Oklahoma39.4
5Mississippi39.1
6Arkansas38.7
7Louisiana38.6
8South Dakota38.4
9Ohio37.8
10Missouri37.3
11Iowa36.4
12Indiana36.3
13South Carolina36.1
14Texas36.1
15Kansas36
16North Carolina36
17Puerto Rico36
18Nebraska35.9
19Virgin Islands35.6
20North Dakota35.2
21Tennessee35
22New Mexico34.6
23Michigan34.4
24Maryland34.3
25Illinois34.2
26Virginia34.2
27Delaware33.9
28Georgia33.9
29Wisconsin33.9
30Alaska33.5
31Guam33.5
32Pennsylvania33.3
33Minnesota32.4
34Wyoming32
35Maine31.9
36Montana31.8
37Idaho31.6
38Arizona31.3
39Nevada31.3
40Utah30.9
41New Hampshire30.6
42Connecticut30.4
43Oregon30.4
44Rhode Island30.1
45New York29.1
46Vermont29
47Washington28.8
48New Jersey28.2
49California27.6
50Massachusetts27.4
51Colorado25.1
52Hawaii25
53District of Columbia24.7
54FloridaNo data

The top 10 most obese states in America are West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Dakota, Ohio, and Missouri.

The Least Obese States in America

The 10 Least Obese regions in America are the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Colorado, Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, Washington, Vermont, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Oregon.

Key Stats


It’s worth noting that obesity is a complex issue with various causes. Some of the main factors that contribute to obesity include genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors. To address the obesity crisis in America, there needs to be a multifaceted approach that includes education, awareness, and policy changes.

It’s important to remember that small changes can make a big difference. By making healthier choices on a daily basis, we can all contribute to a healthier future for ourselves and our communities.

References

CDC report on Obesity 2021: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html