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 $75 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, 68.6 million Americans aged 6 and older were completely inactive in 2022. 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.
Overall Rank* |
State |
Total Score |
Obesity & Overweight Prevalence |
Health Consequences |
Food & Fitness |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | West Virginia | 75.61 | 1 | 1 | 44 |
2 | Mississippi | 71.97 | 2 | 12 | 22 |
3 | Kentucky | 68.96 | 4 | 10 | 21 |
4 | Louisiana | 68.76 | 3 | 26 | 2 |
5 | Arkansas | 68.19 | 6 | 6 | 16 |
6 | Tennessee | 67.70 | 7 | 13 | 4 |
7 | Alabama | 67.26 | 9 | 11 | 3 |
8 | Texas | 66.11 | 5 | 33 | 20 |
9 | South Carolina | 65.81 | 8 | 15 | 25 |
10 | Delaware | 64.73 | 12 | 4 | 40 |
11 | Oklahoma | 64.48 | 10 | 30 | 19 |
12 | North Carolina | 63.26 | 17 | 23 | 1 |
13 | Kansas | 63.13 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
14 | Ohio | 62.94 | 14 | 21 | 14 |
15 | Iowa | 62.31 | 18 | 16 | 29 |
16 | Georgia | 62.26 | 15 | 34 | 6 |
17 | New Mexico | 61.88 | 11 | 41 | 45 |
18 | Missouri | 61.43 | 16 | 28 | 33 |
19 | South Dakota | 61.41 | 13 | 42 | 8 |
20 | Maine | 60.86 | 35 | 2 | 23 |
21 | Michigan | 60.78 | 24 | 22 | 5 |
22 | Indiana | 60.45 | 20 | 29 | 18 |
23 | Virginia | 60.36 | 23 | 20 | 26 |
24 | North Dakota | 60.12 | 25 | 19 | 23 |
25 | Maryland | 60.08 | 22 | 18 | 35 |
26 | Nebraska | 59.26 | 21 | 38 | 12 |
27 | Nevada | 58.76 | 26 | 35 | 7 |
28 | Pennsylvania | 58.56 | 27 | 27 | 28 |
29 | Rhode Island | 57.86 | 33 | 8 | 48 |
30 | Wisconsin | 57.42 | 30 | 32 | 34 |
31 | New Hampshire | 57.34 | 43 | 3 | 41 |
32 | Illinois | 57.02 | 28 | 44 | 17 |
33 | Florida | 56.30 | 29 | 43 | 32 |
34 | Alaska | 56.26 | 34 | 31 | 38 |
35 | New Jersey | 56.16 | 41 | 24 | 9 |
36 | Connecticut | 55.96 | 32 | 40 | 39 |
37 | Wyoming | 55.63 | 42 | 17 | 27 |
38 | Idaho | 55.56 | 46 | 14 | 11 |
39 | Oregon | 55.51 | 36 | 25 | 36 |
40 | Arizona | 55.12 | 31 | 46 | 30 |
41 | New York | 54.67 | 37 | 39 | 31 |
42 | Vermont | 54.22 | 47 | 5 | 50 |
43 | Montana | 52.89 | 49 | 7 | 37 |
44 | Washington | 52.74 | 40 | 36 | 43 |
45 | Minnesota | 51.93 | 44 | 37 | 42 |
46 | California | 50.52 | 39 | 49 | 49 |
47 | District of Columbia | 50.41 | 38 | 50 | 51 |
48 | Hawaii | 49.84 | 45 | 51 | 15 |
49 | Massachusetts | 49.03 | 48 | 45 | 47 |
50 | Utah | 47.68 | 50 | 48 | 13 |
51 | Colorado | 43.46 | 51 | 47 | 46 |
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.
An In-Depth Look at the Most Overweight States in 2023
West Virginia
West Virginia is the most overweight state overall. A whopping 41.3% of the state’s adults are classified as obese, and another 32.6% are overweight but not obese. The Mountain State also has the highest rates of high cholesterol and diabetes in the nation. These health issues are a drain on the economy, costing the state over $58 million per year.
Why are West Virginia residents so overweight? To start, the state has the highest sugary beverage consumption rate among adolescents, and only around 41% of the population lives close to a healthy food retailer. The state also ties for the fourth highest rate of physically inactive adults in the nation. Unhealthy eating habits plus a lack of physical activity are the keys to obesity.
Mississippi
Mississippi ranks as the second most overweight state, with 32% of adults being overweight and an additional 39.7% being obese. Mississippi is also projected to have a higher obesity rate than West Virginia by 2030. The Magnolia State has the highest rate of hypertension in the nation, and residents lose over $55 million in obesity-related healthcare costs annually.
One reason why Missipians are on the heavier side is the fact that close to half of adults in the state eat fruit less than once a day, and nearly a quarter of them do the same for veggies. The state does try to encourage its children to stay fit, though. In fact, it’s one of the highest ranked states when it comes to covering physical education topics in school and providing students with adequate opportunities for physical activity.
Kentucky
Another southern state, Kentucky, rounds out the top three most overweight states. Around 33% of adults in Kentucky are simply overweight, and an additional 37.8% are obese. The Bluegrass State also has the second highest share of obese children in the nation, despite having decent school nutrition policies.
Fewer than half of Kentuckians have a healthy food retailer close to them, which explains why a significant portion of adults go more than a day in between consuming fruit (45.1%) and vegetables (19.5%). Around a quarter of adults are physically inactive, too.
- Highest
- 1. New Mexico
- T-2. Alaska
- T-2. New Jersey
- 4. New Hampshire
- 5. Rhode Island
- Lowest
- 47. Maine
- T-48. Georgia
- T-48. Tennessee
- 50. Louisiana
- 51. District of Columbia
- Highest
- 1. West Virginia
- 2. Oklahoma
- 3. Louisiana
- 4. Mississippi
- 5. Tennessee
- Lowest
- 47. Hawaii
- 48. Massachusetts
- 49. Vermont
- 50. Colorado
- 51. District of Columbia
- Highest
- 1. California
- 2. Delaware
- 3. Rhode Island
- 4. Texas
- T-5. Mississippi
- T-5. South Carolina
- Lowest
- 47. Wyoming
- 48. North Carolina
- 49. Minnesota
- 50. New Hampshire
- 51. Maryland
- Highest
- T-1. West Virginia
- T-1. Kentucky
- 3. Louisiana
- 4. Mississippi
- 5. Tennessee
- Lowest
- 47. North Dakota
- 48. Utah
- 49. Wyoming
- 50. Colorado
- 51. Montana
- Highest
- 1. Mississippi
- 2. Arkansas
- 3. Oklahoma
- T-4. Alabama
- T-4. West Virginia
- Lowest
- 47. Oregon
- 48. Washington
- 49. Utah
- 50. Colorado
- 51. District of Columbia
- 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
- 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
- Highest
- 1. West Virginia
- 2. Arkansas
- 3. Mississippi
- 4. Alabama
- 5. Texas
- Lowest
- T-47. South Dakota
- T-47. Wyoming
- 49. Colorado
- 50. Montana
- 51. Vermont
- Highest
- 1. Mississippi
- 2. Alabama
- 3. West Virginia
- 4. Louisiana
- 5. Arkansas
- Lowest
- 47. Hawaii
- 48. California
- 49. New Hampshire
- 50. Vermont
- 51. Colorado
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:
- What are some tips for eating healthy without breaking the bank?
- What are the biggest mistakes people make when trying to lose weight?
- What proactive measures can people with overweight take to prevent severe health complications?
- What is the impact of obesity on the economy and worker productivity?
Ask the 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, Massachusetts Medical Society, Gallup, Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health, National Conference of State Legislatures, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.
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