Most Overweight & Obese States in America

Being overweight is becoming the new normal in America. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than seven in 10 U.S. adults aged 20 and older are either overweight or obese. Rates are lower for children and adolescents but have risen drastically in the past few decades. So prevalent has America’s obesity problem grown that the weight-loss and diet control industry is massive, worth at least $72 billion. In addition, obesity costs our health care system $173 billion per year.

Recent findings by the Physical Activity Council suggest a need for more aggressive efforts to combat the issue. According to the report, 72.2 million Americans aged 6 and older were completely inactive in 2021. Lack of physical activity is a leading cause of obesity, in addition to genetics, emotional instability and sleeplessness.

The problem is bigger in some states than in others, though. To determine where obesity and overweight most dangerously persist, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the share of obese and overweight population to sugary-beverage consumption among adolescents to obesity-related health care costs.

For a more local perspective on the obesity and overweight problem in the U.S., check out WalletHub’s Most Overweight and Obese Cities report.

Main Findings

Most Overweight & Obese States in the U.S.

Note: *1=Most Overweight
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the worst conditions for that metric category.

% of Overweight Adults

Highest

• 1. Wyoming
• 2. New Jersey
• 3. Arizona
• 4. California
• 5. Tennessee

Lowest

• T-46. Arkansas
• T-46. Kentucky
• T-46. Missouri
• 49. Vermont
• 50. Alabama
• 51. District of Columbia

% of Obese Adults

Highest

• 1. West Virginia
• 2. Alabama
• 3. Kentucky
• 4. Oklahoma
• 5. Mississippi

Lowest

• 47. California
• 48. Massachusetts
• 49. Hawaii
• 50. District of Columbia
• 51. Colorado

Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

West Virginia vs. Colorado

% of Overweight Children

Highest

• T-1. New York
• T-1. Ohio
• 3. South Dakota
• 4. West Virginia
• T-5. Delaware
• T-5. Kansas

Lowest

• 47. Maryland
• 48. Utah
• 49. Minnesota
• 50. Massachusetts
• 51. Missouri

Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

New York vs. Missouri

% of Obese Children

Highest

• 1. Kentucky
• 2. Mississippi
• 3. Louisiana
• 4. West Virginia
• 5. Alabama

Lowest

• 47. Wyoming
• 48. North Dakota
• 49. Utah
• 50. Arizona
• 51. Montana

Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

Kentucky vs. Montana

% of Physically Inactive Adults

Highest

• 1. Mississippi
• 2. Alabama
• 3. Kentucky
• 4. Arkansas
• 5. Louisiana

Lowest

• T-47. Utah
• T-47. Washington
• 49. Vermont
• 50. Colorado
• 51. District of Columbia

Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

Mississippi vs. District of Columbia

% of Adults with High Cholesterol

Highest

• T-1. Virginia
• T-1. West Virginia
• 3. Alabama
• T-4. Kansas
• T-4. Tennessee

Lowest

• 47. Oregon
• 48. Wyoming
• 49. Minnesota
• 50. Vermont
• 51. Montana

% of Adults Eating Less than 1 Serving of Fruits/Vegetables per Day

Highest

• 1. Louisiana
• 2. Mississippi
• 3. Oklahoma
• 4. North Dakota
• 5. Alabama

Lowest

• 47. Massachusetts
• 48. New Hampshire
• T-49. District of Columbia
• T-49. Maine
• 51. Vermont

% of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Highest

• 1. Mississippi
• 2. Alabama
• 3. West Virginia
• T-4. Kentucky
• T-4. Louisiana

Lowest

• T-47. Montana
• T-47. Wyoming
• 49. New Hampshire
• 50. Vermont
• 51. Colorado

Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

Mississippi vs. Colorado

% of Adults with High Blood Pressure

Highest

• 1. Mississippi
• 2. Alabama
• 3. West Virginia
• 4. Louisiana
• 5. Arkansas

Lowest

• 47. Hawaii
• 48. California
• 49. New Hampshire
• 50. Vermont
• 51. Colorado

Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

Mississippi vs. Colorado

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Most & Least Obese States

Although this report examines the prevalence of obesity, it also evaluates the levels of inactivity and overweight in each state. However, given the particularly harmful effects of obesity, we constructed a separate map below that focuses just on obesity rates to highlight the states in which the problem is most concerning. Both adults and children were considered for this separate ranking. A rank of No. 1 corresponds with the highest obesity rate.

Ask the Experts

Our collective medical tab of nearly $200 billion is just one of the consequences of obesity. To shed more light on the issue and find solutions that consumers and local governments can follow, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What are some tips for eating healthy without breaking the bank?
2. What are the biggest mistakes people make when trying to lose weight?
3. The CDC has expanded the risk for severe illness to include not just obese people, but overweight people as well. What proactive measures can overweight people take to prevent severe complications?
4. What is the impact of obesity on the economy and worker productivity?

Ask the Experts

Cindy Fitch
Ph.D., RD – Associate Dean for Research, Extension Professor – West Virginia University Extension Service
Read More

Janelle Walter
Ph.D., R.D., FAND – Retired Professor Emeritus of Nutrition Sciences – Baylor University
Read More

David Julian McClements
Ph.D. – Distinguished Professor, Department of Food Science, College of Natural Sciences – University of Massachusetts Amherst
Read More

Brie Turner-McGrievy
Ph.D., M.S., R.D., FTOS – Associate Professor, Deputy Director, TecHealth Center, Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior – Arnold School of Public Health – University of South Carolina
Read More

Susan B. Sisson
Ph.D. RDN, CHES, FACSM – Sam K. Viersen Family Foundation Presidential Professor, Associate Dean for Research & Chair, Department of Allied Health Sciences; Professor & Director, Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences; Director, Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Laboratory– College of Allied Health – University of Oklahoma
Read More

Sandy Bargainnier
EdD, CHES, NBC-HWC – Professor of Health Promotion and Wellness; Program Coordinator: Integrative Professional Studies – State University of New York at Oswego
Read More

More Experts

Most Popular Comfort Foods by State

Methodology

In order to determine the most overweight and obese states in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions: 1) Obesity & Overweight Prevalence, 2) Health Consequences and 3) Food & Fitness.

We evaluated those dimensions using 31 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most overweight state. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we calculated the population size using the square root of the population in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across states.

Finally, we determined each state and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.

Obesity & Overweight Prevalence – Total Points: 60

• Share of Overweight Adults: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)
• Share of Obese Adults: Double Weight (~12.00 Points)
• Share of Overweight Teenagers: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)
  Note: “Teenagers” includes the population aged 14 to 18.
• Share of Obese Teenagers: Double Weight (~12.00 Points)
  Note: “Teenagers” includes the population aged 14 to 18.
• Share of Overweight Children: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)
  Note: “Children” includes the population aged 10 to 17.
• Share of Obese Children: Double Weight (~12.00 Points)
  Note: “Children” includes the population aged 10 to 17.
• Projected Obesity Rate in 2030: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)

Health Consequences – Total Points: 25

• Share of Adults with High Cholesterol: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Share of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Projected Diabetes Cases by 2030: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Projected Obesity-Related Cancer Cases in 2030: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Share of Adults with Hypertension: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Heart Disease Rate: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Projected Coronary Heart Disease & Stroke Cases by 2030: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Obesity-Related Death Rate: Double Weight (~4.00 Points)
• Obesity-Related Health Care Costs: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the annual incremental health care costs attributable to obesity per 100,000 adults, as calculated by Gallup, which estimates per-person cost at $1,573.
• Projected Obesity-Related Care Cost Increase by 2030: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Level of Expanded Health Insurance Coverage for Nutritional Counseling: Half Weight (~1.00 Points)
  Note: This metric measures whether Nutritional Counseling is covered, partially covered or not covered at all by health insurance in every state.
• Presence of DNPAO Funding for Obesity-Related Programs: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
  Note: This binary metric the presence or absence of DNPAO (Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity) funding for obesity-related programs in every state.

Food & Fitness – Total Points: 15

• Share of Adults Eating Less than 1 Serving of Fruits/Vegetables per Day: Full Weight (~1.30 Points)
• Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Adolescents: Full Weight (~1.30 Points)
• Share of Secondary Schools that Ban Students from Purchasing Soda or Fruit Drinks: Full Weight (~1.30 Points)
• Fast-Food Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.30 Points)
• Healthy-Food Access: Full Weight (~1.30 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of census tracts that have at least one healthier food retailer located within the tract or within 0.5 miles of tract boundaries.
• Health Educators and Community Health Workers per Capita: Full Weight (~1.30 Points)
  Note: Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop and implement strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities.
• Share of Middle and High Schools Offering Salad Bars: Half Weight (~0.65 Points)
  Note: This indicator represents the share of middle and high schools that offer a self-serve salad bar.
• Comprehensiveness of School Nutrition Policies: Full Weight (~1.30 Points)
  Note: This metrics measures the degree of comprehensiveness of School Nutrition Policies by state.
  • 1 – Comprehensive
  • 0.6 – Moderate
  • 0.3 – Low
  • 0 – No Coverage
• Comprehensiveness of School Physical Activity Policies: Full Weight (~1.30 Points)
  Note: This metrics measures the degree of comprehensiveness of School Physical Activity Policies by state.
  • 1 – Comprehensive
  • 0.5 – Moderate
  • 0 – Low
• Share of Physically Inactive Adults: Full Weight (~1.30 Points)
• Share of Physically Inactive Children and Teenagers Aged 6-17: Full Weight (~1.30 Points)
• Fitness Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.30 Points)

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, Trust for America's Health, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Gallup, Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health, National Conference of State Legislatures, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

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