Stereotypes are difficult to escape, especially when they come with a semblance of the truth. There is no way to deny that there is a weight issue in the United States of America. We can attribute its rise to several things, but you will be astonished by the actual numbers. Do you have any idea which is considered the fattest of the 50 states? Let us take a look at which countries bear the brunt of this reality of nutrition. We hope that you are not going to find your state on this list!
Here Are The Fattest States Based On The Obesity Rate
Pennsylvania – 31.6% Obesity Rate
Known for its cheesesteak stores, this state boasts a 31.6 percent obesity rate. We must admit that we’re also fans of these greasy sandwiches, but we don’t eat them regularly. While Pennsylvania is connected with Georgia, it sounds like it’s worse for the children in this state. We are saying this because the childhood obesity rate is the 9th highest in the United States in the Keystone State!
Pennsylvania – 31.6% Obesity Rate
Georgia – 31.6% Obesity Rate
Georgia did not do too badly in terms of the obesity rate in 2012, but at 28 percent, it was still far from acceptable. Things got even worse in only seven years as the figures rose to 31.6 percent. Maybe with those famous peaches, they were baking too many pies and cakes. Kids are also not immune to this. When it comes to obesity levels among children ten to seventeen years of age, it is 18th.
Georgia – 31.6% Obesity Rate
Delaware – 31.8% Obesity Rate
According to Delaware’s health and human services division, only 39.7 percent of its residents are in the recommended range. Around a third of individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 are considered overweight! The older they are, the more likely they will be to become obese. In fact, of those aged 25 to 34, 56 percent are overweight. Even worse, for 68 percent of individuals aged 45 to 64, this is true. In total, 58.6 percent of the state’s adults are either obese or overweight. That doesn’t work at all sounds good.
Delaware – 31.8% Obesity Rate
South Dakota – 31.9% Obesity Rate
Around 29.6% of those living in South Dakota were obese in 2016. The number increased to 31.9 percent three years later. This figure meant it was now going to be part of our unfortunate list. Unfortunately, the following individuals tend to suffer from high rates of obesity: American Indians, individuals with only a GED or high school diploma, and those with an annual income of anywhere from $25,000 to $34,999. It is sad to hear that Native American reservations are seeing the nation’s highest rates of obesity.
South Dakota – 31.9% Obesity Rate
Wisconsin – 32% Obesity Rate
When your state is known for cheese, it sounds impossible to remain off this list. This may have something to do with Wisconsin being included on the list! The good news is that among children, it has a pretty low obesity rate. The School of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin used zip codes in a study in the hope of combating obesity. Certain areas are said to be four times more likely to be overweight!
Wisconsin – 32% Obesity Rate
North Carolina – 32.1% Obesity Rate
When they hear this state’s name, some people immediately think of Carolina barbecue, pimento cheese, and shrimp and grit. Did you know that it is also Krispy Kreme Donuts’ birthplace? North Carolina has delicious food, but it has a high rate of obesity as well. It seems these two things go hand in hand! Sadly, sooner than later, the state might want to bring down the rate of obesity.
North Carolina – 32.1% Obesity Rate
Michigan – 32.3% Obesity Rate
Almost a third of Michigan’s people are obese! The good news is that the number has dropped from the year before. Of children aged 10 to 17, about 18.9 percent suffer from obesity, which is not relatively good. The state should, unfortunately, keep an eye on things and get them under control. It is said that the information could have something to do with the state’s low rates of high school graduation. Researchers have noticed that individuals with lower levels of education tend to be more at risk of obesity.
Michigan – 32.3% Obesity Rate
Kansas – 32.4% Obesity Rate
Some people might think that it is a whole new country after checking out the food in Kansas. Among other things, you have “bierocks,” “lefse,” “zwiebach,” and “loose meat sandwich.” If you are not familiar with them, trust us when we say they are not very healthy. Between 2014 and 2015, the Kansas Health Foundations noted that the state was one of many that saw a sharp rise in obesity. Things have also yet to improve. Since then, the state has leveled out, but things could still be a lot better.
Kansas – 32.4% Obesity Rate
Missouri – 32.5% Obesity Rate
Toasted ravioli… do we have to say more to remind you of Missouri cuisine than that? In St. Louis, the dish was invented and made famous. It is as delicious as it is terrible for you, this Americanized version of Italian food. This probably explains the Show-Me State’s high obesity rate. The population as a whole is 32.5% obese. But it is even worse when you hear that two-thirds of adults suffer from obesity. But it is even worse when you hear that two-thirds of adults suffer from obesity.
Missouri – 32.5% Obesity Rate
Tennessee – 32.8% Obesity Rate
Have you ever been to Tennessee? If you went to a classic restaurant there, you’d see much-fried stuff on the menu. Fried catfish, fried pickles, fried chicken, and sweet potato fries are part of the list. Let us not forget that with barbecue, cornbread, country ham, and more, they often come! Because they are, they seem indulgent. We can see why it has an obesity rate that high.
Tennessee – 32.8% Obesity Rate
Nebraska – 32.8% Obesity Rate
Nebraska, fair enough, is not famous for its cuisine. The locals say that many Americans do not know much about the state other than its vast farmlands and corn. It seems like the government knows that it has a weight problem and, to no avail, has been trying to fix it. Once a bill involving the taxation of candy and soda drinks was discussed by the state government. It never went by. The authorities in Nebraska now hope that serving healthier food in public schools will help improve the situation.
Nebraska – 32.8% Obesity Rate
Texas – 33% Obesity Rate
You have probably heard that in the Lone Star State, everything is larger. This is also, unfortunately, true when it comes to waistlines! Obesity is suffered by one in three Texan adults. The number goes even higher if you count the number of people who are overweight. The CDC says that 65.9 percent of individuals in the state are above the recommended BMI. In addition, 27.3 percent of residents say that in the course of a month, they did not engage in physical activity at all. Huh. Yikes.
Texas – 33% Obesity Rate
North Dakota – 33.2% Obesity Rate
There was no state in 1985, which had an obesity rate north of 15%. Six years later, no state had a rate of obesity more significant than 20%. Sadly, North Dakota’s obesity rate has since gone up to 33.2 percent. 71% are obese or overweight. Higher levels of obesity tend to be seen by those in rural areas. What makes it even worse is that, while 10 percent have diabetes, 29.5 percent have high blood pressure.
North Dakota – 33.2% Obesity Rate
Indiana – 33.6% Obesity Rate
The truth is that the obesity rate of Indiana has remained relatively stable in the past. In 2013, it had an obesity rate of 31 percent. This does not differ drastically from 33.6 percent today. It should, of course, be lower still. “The state needs to step back and say ‘what can we do more of, what evidence-based programs do we need to put in place, and what is a more comprehensive approach to obesity prevention that we need to embrace?’” Said the director of Trust for America’s Health.
Indiana – 33.6% Obesity Rate
Ohio – 33.8% Obesity Rate
It looks like the kids aren’t okay. Things look grim in Ohio, as one in every six children between the ages of 10 and 17 is obese. This is already depressing enough on its own but wait until you hear that obesity affects one in every seven American children. The state feels “optimistic” at any rate that it can “turn the tide around,” said the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The number went down only to go back up in 2016.
Ohio – 33.8% Obesity Rate
South Carolina – 34.1% Obesity Rate
If you’ve ever been to South Carolina, you’re likely to agree that there is fantastic food in the state. You’ve got collard greens, creamy grits, she-crab soup, pecan pies, fried okra, and more! We know it’s hard to resist temptation, but anyway, the locals indulge in it. The southern state has made it to the list of the country’s top ten fattest states. We are sure that it does not take pride in this honor if you can call it that.
South Carolina – 34.1% Obesity Rate
Alaska – 34.2% Obesity Rate
The number of obese adults in Alaska has more than doubled since 1991. Thirteen percent of locals fell under that category almost 30 years ago. It was surprising that this number had grown by so much. Alaskan officials claim that in early education, they emphasize healthy food. Some people speculate that people are getting heavier because food in this state is typically both costly and limited.
Alaska – 34.2% Obesity Rate
Kentucky – 34.3% Obesity Rate
What were you expecting from the state we immediately associate with fried chicken? 37% of its inhabitants were said to be obese in 2018. From 2016 to 2017, the state came in second when it came to the obesity rate of children and teens. A lack of healthy food could have something to do with the dismal records. One study said that in terms of healthy food availability, Kentucky was 43rd!
Kentucky – 34.3% Obesity Rate
Arkansas – 35% Obesity Rate
Nothing beats high-fat, high-protein food items for the Arkansans. The state likes communal eating, mainly if meat, fish, and chicken are involved. You can already guess why the Natural State suffers from such a high rate of obesity from that alone. Obesity is considered the state’s most preventable health problem! Experts say that since fried food is regarded as a staple of the diet, many Southern states are on the list. It also has to do with the uneven distribution of wealth within the state in the rural regions.
Arkansas – 35% Obesity Rate
Louisiana – 36.2% Obesity Rate
You do not need to be a genius to know that Louisiana has a lot of iconic food. Locals take pride in the rich gumbo, spicy jambalaya, beignets, po’boy sandwiches, crawfish, pralines, and more! Unfortunately, it looks like obesity affects young people. Isn’t it terrible that 13.2 percent of children between the ages of two and four are already obese? This goes up among those in high school to 17 percent. Among members of the African-American community, the problem seems to be the most prevalent. The Latino community is also broadly affected.
Louisiana – 36.2% Obesity Rate
Alabama – 36.3% Obesity Rate
Known for its chicken fried steak, Alabama has the nation’s fifth-highest rate of obesity. The obesity rate of 36.3 percent is bad enough on its own, but it is even more devastating to hear that when you count the number of overweight residents, this goes up to 69 percent. A CDC study said that in the previous month, 31 percent of Alabamans did not do any physical activity at all.
Alabama – 36.3% Obesity Rate
Iowa – 36.4% Obesity Rate
In an attempt to win over the support of the voters, presidential candidates go to various states. Most applicants try to go to the Iowa State Fair, which has crazy food products for sale. These include chicken wings wrapped in bacon, a butter cake shake, pecan pie dipped in caramel, fried avocado, corn dogs, bacon balls, and more. By reading that list, we feel like we’ve just put on ten pounds!
Iowa – 36.4% Obesity Rate
Oklahoma – 36.5% Obesity Rate
Can you believe 18% of Oklahoman children between the ages of ten and seventeen are obese? This means that in the United States, the state has the sixth-highest childhood obesity rate! The figure has more than doubled among children aged six to eleven over the past three decades. Among those aged twelve to nineteen, meanwhile, it has quadrupled. Experts think that this has something to do with the popularity of sugar drinks among residents, such as energy drinks, sports drinks, and sodas.
Oklahoma – 36.5% Obesity Rate
Mississippi – 37.3% Obesity Rate
This state also has its fair share of unhealthy but delicious food in Mississippi mud pie, blue crab, and more! Unfortunately, the state has since gained one of the top rates of obesity in the United States. It has only been defeated by one state. About 37.3 percent of adults in Mississippi are obese. This means that over one and a half million people in the state are obese or overweight if you need some context. This is an enormous threat to the state of public health in Mississippi, as you can imagine.
Mississippi – 37.3% Obesity Rate
West Virginia – 38.1% Obesity Rate
Who would have thought that West Virginia is the fattest state in the United States? The Mountain State has a rate of obesity of 38 percent, which is the worst in the whole country. The Health and Human Services division of the state says that it is “one of the most serious public health concerns facing [the] state today.” According to the authorities, this problem has resulted in $1.4 to $1.8 billion in preventable medical costs! It has also resulted in lower productivity rates that cost $506 per obese worker a year to employers.
West Virginia – 38.1% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Maryland – 31.3% Obesity Rate
Maryland has many crab promotions for “all you can eat,” which could explain the expansion of waistlines in the state. It is difficult to put those crab legs down, to be fair! Unfortunately, things are getting out of hand. The state’s Department of Health says that 45% of Marylanders have high blood pressure, 47% have high cholesterol, and 23% have diabetes.
Honorable Mention Maryland – 31.3% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Illinois – 31.1% Obesity Rate
If you do not know what a horseshoe sandwich is, you should go to Illinois ASAP. It is said to be the unofficial state meal! These things originated in Springfield, Illinois. All you need is a thick bread slice, roast beef slices or a burger patty, and a pile of french fries or hash browns. Pouring sausage gravy over it is the last thing you have to do. Yep, by reading about it, we also feel like we’ve bottled one of those things.
Honorable Mention Illinois – 31.1% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Virginia – 30.1% Obesity Rate
The sad truth is that obesity has long been dealt with in Virginia. In 2015, the Center for Disease Control received over $375,000 from the state to improve access to healthy food and encourage locals’ physical activity. Unfortunately, these endeavors did not bear much fruit. The state may not be in the nation’s 25 fattest states, although its consistently high rate does not bode well for Virginians.
Honorable Mention Virginia – 30.1% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Rhode Island – 30% Obesity Rate
Maybe Rhode Island isn’t an actual island, but it still has excellent seafood! Just a heads up, most of them are battered and fried. When you see plates piled high with fried calamari, fish, and oysters, we’re sure you won’t! However, you would be wise to keep an eye on the calories you are consuming. Thirty percent of Rhode Islanders suffer from obesity, the World Population Review said.
Honorable Mention Rhode Island – 30% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Arizona – 29.5% Obesity Rate
Sadly, 29.5 percent of people living in Arizona are obese. Thanks to the state government’s efforts, it is probably somewhat better than the number has plateaued. It could still be so much better, though. Thanks to its proximity to our neighbor, the local food have a lot of strong Mexican influences. This could explain why it has been so difficult for locals to reduce the rate of obesity.
Honorable Mention Arizona – 29.5% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Oregon – 29.4% Obesity Rate
When it comes to the topic of Oregon, it is easy to envision the great outdoors. This is why it surprises so many people to hear that it has higher rates of obesity than its neighbors! The state has been working hard to flatten the curve, but it has not done much. At any rate, the health promotion manager of the state gave this statement to the local media outlets: “We’ve been able to stay pretty flat, which was our intention given the resources that we have to address obesity.”
Honorable Mention Oregon – 29.4% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Idaho – 29.3% Obesity Rate
One of the items most people associate with Idaho is the huckleberry. Anything from ice cream to cheesecake to syrup is added to the purple berries! They’ve been getting more attention ever since. Did you know that all over the state, there are hidden family-owned huckleberry farms? Unfortunately, all of the sugar has taken a toll on the locals. It could have something to do with Idaho’s obesity rate of 29.3 percent.
Honorable Mention Idaho – 29.3% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Maine – 29.1% Obesity Rate
The largest state in New England has an obesity rate of 29.1 percent. This makes it the second fattest one in the region as well. A medical expert gave NBC News an interesting theory: “Fresh fruit and produce are not easy to find in Maine. We’re a rural state, parts of Maine have low-income populations, so we know that in a rural state, many people don’t have access.”
Honorable Mention Maine – 29.1% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Wyoming – 28.8% Obesity Rate
All the bison burgers, lamb, elk, sausage gravy, and chicken-fried steak you want can be had in Wyoming. This does not mean, however, that you should! Within the state, 11,500 ranches and farms exist. This might be why 28.8 percent of the state’s individuals are obese. It might look bad, but it’s a bit lower than the national average. It is better off than many other states, although it is not ideal.
Honorable Mention Wyoming – 28.8% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Florida – 28.4% Obesity Rate
The Sunshine State has been on the receiving end of many jokes in the past. Florida is faring much better than the majority of the nation in terms of the obesity rate. It is 35th out of the 50 states at 28.4 percent. Through programs that encourage exercise, offer healthier options at lower prices, and promote workplace and school initiatives, the Florida Department of Health is still trying to reduce the numbers.
Honorable Mention Florida – 28.4% Obesity Rate
Colorado – 22.6% Obesity Rate
According to statistics, Colorado is the state with the lowest number of obese people. In 2017, around 23 percent of the adults residing in this state were obese, the country’s lowest rate. The number of obese individuals, however, keeps increasing. Those aged between 45 and 64 in Colorado are most likely to be obese. Of course, by raising awareness and passing related laws, the state is taking action and trying to lower those numbers.
Colorado 22.6% Obesity Rate
District of Columbia – 23% Obesity Rate
There was a 1.9 percent decrease in obesity in District residents in 2012 – compared to 2011 – according to a survey conducted. It’s most common in the district of Columbia among adults aged 40-64. Still, this neighborhood ranks the second-lowest rate of obesity in the United States, just above Colorado. 17.8 percent of children in the district of Columbia were overweight, while 17.7 percent were obese. Surveys conducted revealed that they lacked nutrition and did not do enough physical activity.
District Of Columbia 23% Obesity Rate
Hawaii – 23.8% Obesity Rate
Hawaii may have ranked among the lowest states in America on the obesity scale, but things have taken a wrong turn in heaven. As the Hawaiian population does not do sufficient overall exercise, 23.5 percent of residents have said they do zero physical activity. Not to mention, 37% of adults in the states have said that they eat less than one fruit a day, opting for unhealthier options. No state is safe from this epidemic, it seems.
Hawaii 23.8% Obesity Rate
California – 25.1% Obesity Rate
In terms of obesity, California in the United States is ranked 4th lowest. It is considered that less than one in every four adults living in California is obese. There is a 12.7 percent rate of obesity for those ages 18 to 25. Twenty-four percent for those 26 to 44. Those between 45 and 64, 31 percent, and 24.4 percent are those over 65. While there are many issues to worry about in California, being fat is not one of those issues.
California 25.1% Obesity Rate
Montana – 25.3% Obesity Rate
As of 2019, the obesity rate in Montana is among the lowest in the country. It comes in at 6th place in terms of the lowest obesity rates. Just over 26% of the residents of Montana are obese. This is a testament to the state programs in schools and hospitals that promote nutritious and unprocessed foods. As a whole, Montana is working on obesity and improving the overall health of the public.
Montana 25.3% Obesity Rate
Utah – 25.3% Obesity Rate
Although Utah has a lower rate of obesity than many other states, that does not mean that it is doing well. Even though most people in the state are relatively healthy, according to the annual “State of Obesity” report made by the Trust for America’s Health, they are still steadily gaining weight – just not as much as the rest of the country. The figures simply demonstrate how the national obesity crisis is getting worse.
Utah 25.3% Obesity Rate
Connecticut – 29.1% Obesity Rate
As we now know, obesity in the United States is a significant health concern. Almost one in three adults is impacted. 21.6 percent of all adults in the state reported that they had not participated in any physical activity in at least a month. That’s while 28.5 percent of adults have recently reported eating vegetables three or more times a day. All the same, Connecticut is another state that needs to improve the public’s health.
Connecticut 29.1% Obesity Rate
Guam – 33.6%
Over 30 percent of the people in Guam are obese. Over time the number of overweight adults in Guam has been growing steadily, posing an increasing threat to the population. Around 60% of Guam’s deaths are caused by chronic illnesses associated with poor lifestyle and diet patterns. This means that most Guam deaths are due to obesity and weight problems, making it a deadly epidemic.
Guam 33.6%
Massachusetts – 25.2% Obesity Rate
The adult obesity rate in Massachusetts dropped slightly between 2015 and 2016, raising a bit of hope in the state. Similarly, the state faces a rate of obesity in its population of 25.2 percent, meaning that it is still severe enough to pose a problem. The state has taken steps to remedy the issue. They have developed drinking water initiatives, raised nutrition standards, healthy eating, physical activity, and more.
Massachusetts 25.2% Obesity Rate
Minnesota – 30.1% Obesity Rate
The adult obesity rate in Minnesota has remained somewhat steady in 2018 and 2019, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay. Minnesota has an obesity rate of 30.1 percent, according to the Department of Health. Almost one adult in three suffers from obesity. It is also lower than its neighboring states, aside from the fact that Minnesota’s obesity rate is lower than the national average. To name a few, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Dakota have obesity rates above 33%.
Minnesota 30.1% Obesity Rate
Nebraska – 34.1% Obesity Rate
Apart from the fact that Nebraska is on the higher end of American rates of obesity, its rate has been rising for several years now. The numbers have risen steadily from 2013 to 2018. Just over a third of today’s population weighs in as obese. As isolated programs calling for lifestyle changes are not doing enough, it seems that significant changes need to be set in place for Nebraska residents.
Nebraska 34.1% Obesity Rate
Nevada – 30.6% Obesity Rate
As with most Americans, broader and broader waists are experienced by those living in Nevada. Unfortunately, the figures are increasing steadily, leading to more cases of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. While obesity policies are being established across the states, it does not seem that they are doing much good for the population just yet. Still, Nevada is one of the few states to require higher nutritional standards for school lunches for children.
Nevada 30.6% Obesity Rate
New Hampshire – 31.8% Obesity Rate
New Hampshire is in a rather dire state: nearly two out of three adults are overweight or obese, and over a quarter of the children. The only good thing to say is that this rate has held steady for at least five years now. To begin reversing this deadly trend, it is clear that action needs to be taken by governments, the food industry, and individuals. Despite the proportion, only 9 percent of New Hampshire adults suffer from diabetes or conditions related to obesity.
New Hampshire 31.8% Obesity Rate
New Jersey – 27.7% Obesity Rate
New Jersey appears to be faring better than most of the nation when it comes to obesity. That’s not to say they do well. New Jersey is slowly getting heavier, just like all the other states. The state, however, is taking some serious action to remedy the issue. An initiative was created in 2020 to improve the overall health of New Jersey residents. To encourage healthier lifestyle choices,’ Healthy New Jersey 2020′ aims to achieve different health-centered goals by the end of the year.
New Jersey – 27.7% Obesity Rate