Mississippi – 37.3% Obesity Rate
This state also has its fair share of Mississippi mud pie, blue crab, and more with unhealthy but delicious food! Sadly, the state has since acquired one of the highest levels of obesity in the United States. Only one state has defeated it. In Mississippi, approximately 37.3 percent of adults are obese. This means that, if you need some context, over one and a half million individuals in the state are obese or overweight. As you can imagine, this is an enormous threat to the state of public health in Mississippi.
West Virginia – 38.1% Obesity Rate
Who would have thought that the fattest state in the United States was West Virginia? The Mountain State has a 38 percent obesity rate, which is the worst in the country as a whole. 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, $1.4 to $1.8 billion in preventable medical costs have resulted in this problem! It has also led to lower productivity rates that cost employers $506 per obese worker a year.