Stereotypes, particularly when they come with a semblance of the truth, are hard to escape. In the United States of America, there is no way of denying that there is a weight problem. We can attribute its rise to several things, but the actual numbers will astonish you. Do you have any idea which of the 50 states is considered to be the fattest? Let us look at which countries bear the brunt of this nutritional reality. We hope you will not 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 an obesity rate of 31.6 percent. We have to admit that we’re fans of these greasy sandwiches as well but we don’t regularly eat them. While Pennsylvania is connected with Georgia, for the children in this state, it sounds like it’s worse. We are saying this because in the Keystone State, the childhood obesity rate is the 9th highest in the United States!
Pennsylvania – 31.6% Obesity Rate
Georgia – 31.6% Obesity Rate
In terms of the obesity rate in 2012, Georgia did not do too badly, but it was still far from acceptable at 28 percent. In just seven years, things got even worse as the numbers increased to 31.6 percent. Maybe they were baking too many pies and cakes with those famous peaches. Also, children are not immune to this. It is 18th when it comes to obesity levels among children aged between ten and seventeen years.
Georgia – 31.6% Obesity Rate
Delaware – 31.8% Obesity Rate
According to the health and human services division of Delaware, only 39.7 percent of its residents are in the recommended range. Around a third of people are considered overweight between the ages of 18 and 25! The older they are the greater the likelihood that they will become obese. In fact, 56 percent of those aged 25 to 34 are overweight. Even worse, this is true for 68 percent of individuals aged 45 to 64. In total, 58.6% of the adults in the state are either obese or overweight. That doesn’t work and it sounds good at all.
Delaware – 31.8% Obesity Rate
South Dakota – 31.9% Obesity Rate
In 2016, approximately 29.6 percent of those living in South Dakota were obese. Three years later, the number increased to 31.9 percent. This figure meant that our unfortunate list was now going to be part of it. Unfortunately, high rates of obesity appear to affect the following people: American Indians, people with just a GED or high school diploma, and those with an annual income of anywhere from $25,000 to $34,999. It is unfortunate to hear that Native American reservations are seeing the highest obesity rates in the nation.
South Dakota – 31.9% Obesity Rate
Wisconsin – 32% Obesity Rate
It seems difficult to keep off this list when your state is famous for cheese. This could have something to do with being placed on the list in Wisconsin! The good news is that it has a pretty low obesity rate among children. In the hope of fighting obesity, the School of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin used zip codes in a report. It is said that some places are four times more likely to be overweight!
Wisconsin – 32% Obesity Rate
North Carolina – 32.1% Obesity Rate
Some people instantly think of Carolina barbecue, pimento cheese, and shrimp and grit when they hear this state’s name. Did you know that it is the birthplace of Krispy Kreme Donuts as well? North Carolina has tasty food, but it also has a high rate of obesity. These two things seem to go hand in hand! Unfortunately, the state will want to get the rate of obesity down sooner than later.
North Carolina – 32.1% Obesity Rate
Michigan – 32.3% Obesity Rate
Nearly a third of the population in Michigan are obese! The good news is that from the year before the number has fallen. Around 18.9 percent of kids aged 10 to 17 suffer from obesity, which is not relatively healthy. Unfortunately, the state should keep an eye on things and get them under control. It is said the data may have something to do with the low rates of high school graduation in the state. Researchers have found that people with lower educational levels appear to be more at risk of obesity.
Michigan – 32.3% Obesity Rate
Kansas – 32.4% Obesity Rate
After checking out the food in Kansas, some people may think that it is a whole new world. You have “bierocks,” “lefse,” “zwieback,” and “loose meat sandwich.” among other things. If you are not acquainted with them, believe us when we say that they are not really safe. The Kansas Health Foundations observed between 2014 and 2015 that the state was one of those that saw a dramatic increase in obesity. Things are yet to change as well. The state has balanced out ever since but things could still be a lot better.
Kansas – 32.4% Obesity Rate
Missouri – 32.5% Obesity Rate
Toasted ravioli… Do we need to say more than that to remind you of the cuisine of Missouri? The dish was invented and made popular in St. Louis. For you this Americanized version of Italian food is as delicious as it is horrible. The high obesity rate of the Show-Me State is possibly explained by this. The population is 32.5 percent obese as a whole. However when you learn that two-thirds of adults suffer from obesity, it is much worse. However when you learn that two-thirds of adults suffer from obesity, it is much worse.
Missouri – 32.5% Obesity Rate
Tennessee – 32.8% Obesity Rate
Have you ever been to Tennessee? If you went to that classic restaurant, you’d see a lot of fried items on the menu. The list includes fried catfish, fried pickles, fried chicken, and sweet potato fries. Let us not forget that they also arrive with barbecue, cornbread, country ham, and more! They seem indulgent because they are. We can see why it has such a high obesity rate.
Tennessee – 32.8% Obesity Rate
Nebraska – 32.8% Obesity Rate
Nebraska, fair enough, is not known for its gastronomy. The locals claim that other than its vast farmlands and corn, many Americans do not know anything about the state. It seems that the government realizes that it has a problem with weight and has tried to resolve it to no avail. The state legislature once debated a bill concerning the taxation of candy and soda drinks. Never did it go by. The Nebraskan authorities now hope that serving nutritious food would help improve the situation in public schools.
Nebraska – 32.8% Obesity Rate
Texas – 33% Obesity Rate
You have probably learned that everything is bigger in the Lone Star State. Sadly, this is also true when it comes to waistlines! One in 3 Texan adults suffers from obesity. If you count the number of individuals that are overweight, the number goes much higher. 65.9 percent of people in the state are above the minimum BMI, the CDC states. Furthermore, 27.3 percent of residents state that they did not engage in physical exercise at all in the course of a month. Huh Huh. 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 an obesity rate greater than 20% . Sadly, the obesity rate in North Dakota has since gone up to 33.2 percent. 71 percent are overweight or obese. Those in rural areas tend to see higher levels of obesity. What makes it even worse is that 29.5 percent have high blood pressure, while 10 percent have diabetes.
North Dakota – 33.2% Obesity Rate
Indiana – 33.6% Obesity Rate
The fact is that Indiana’s obesity rate has stayed relatively constant in the past. It had an obesity rate of 31 percent in 2013. This is not significantly different from today’s 33.6 percent. Of course, it should always be lower. The state needs to step back and think, “What more can we do what evidence-based programs do we need to implement, and what more comprehensive approach do we need to adopt to prevent obesity?” “The director of the Trust for America’s Health said.
Indiana – 33.6% Obesity Rate
Ohio – 33.8% Obesity Rate
It looks like the kids aren’t okay. In Ohio, things look bleak, as one of every six children between 10 and 17 years of age is obese. This is still depressing enough on its own but wait until you know that one in every seven American children is affected by obesity. At any rate, the state feels “optimistic” that it can “turn the tide around the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation said. In 2016, the number went down only to go back up.
Ohio – 33.8% Obesity Rate
South Carolina – 34.1% Obesity Rate
If you’ve ever been to South Carolina, you’ll probably agree that the state has great food. There’s collard greens, fluffy grits, she-crab broth, pecan pies, fried okra, and more! We know the temptation is hard to resist, but anyway the locals indulge in it. The southern state made it to the list of the top ten fattest states in the world. If you may call it that we are sure it does not take pride in this honor.
South Carolina – 34.1% Obesity Rate
Alaska – 34.2% Obesity Rate
Since 1991, the number of obese adults has more than doubled in Alaska. Almost 30 years ago, thirteen percent of locals fall under that group. The number had risen by so much, it was shocking. Alaskan officials allege that they prioritize nutritious food in early education. Some people speculate that people are becoming heavier because food is usually both expensive and restricted in this state.
Alaska – 34.2% Obesity Rate
Kentucky – 34.3% Obesity Rate
What were you expecting from the state we associate with fried chicken right away? In 2018, 37% of its inhabitants were said to be obese. From 2016 to 2017, when it came to the obesity rate in kids and teenagers, the state came in second. The dismal records may have had to do with a lack of nutritious food. One study said that Kentucky was 43rd in terms of safe food availability!
Kentucky – 34.3% Obesity Rate
Arkansas – 35% Obesity Rate
Nothing for the Arkansans beats high-fat, high-protein food products. The state likes communal eating, particularly if it includes meat, fish and chicken. You can already guess that the natural state suffers from that alone, such a high incidence of obesity. Obesity is called the most preventable health concern in the state! Experts claim that many Southern states are on the list because fried food is perceived as a staple of the diet. It also has to do with the unequal distribution in the rural regions of resources within the state.
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! Sadly it looks like obesity is affecting young people. Isn’t it awful that 13.2 percent of kids are already obese between the ages of two and four? This goes up to 17 percent of those in high school. The issue appears to be the most prevalent among members of the African-American community. Also broadly affected is the Latino community.
Louisiana – 36.2% Obesity Rate
Alabama – 36.3% Obesity Rate
Known for its chicken fried steak, Alabama has the fifth-highest obesity rate in the nation. The 36.3 percent obesity rate is bad enough on its own, but it is even more devastating to hear that this goes up to 69 percent when you count the number of overweight residents. A CDC study said that 31 percent of Alabamans didn’t do any physical activity at all in the previous month.
Alabama – 36.3% Obesity Rate
Iowa – 36.4% Obesity Rate
Presidential candidates go to different states in an attempt to win over the support of the voters. Most candidates are trying to go to the State Fair in Iowa, which has crazy food products for sale. These include bacon-wrapped chicken wings, a butter cake shake, caramel-dipped pecan pie, fried avocado, corn dogs, bacon balls, and much more. We feel like we have just put on ten pounds by reading that list!
Iowa – 36.4% Obesity Rate
Oklahoma – 36.5% Obesity Rate
Can you believe 18% of Oklahoman kids between the ages of 10 and 17 are obese? This means that the state has the sixth-highest childhood obesity rate in the United States! Over the past three decades, the figure has more than doubled among kids aged six to eleven. It has quadrupled among those aged twelve to nineteen, meanwhile. Experts believe this has something to do with the popularity of sugar drinks, such as energy drinks, sports drinks, and sodas, among residents.
Oklahoma – 36.5% Obesity Rate
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.
Mississippi – 37.3% Obesity Rate
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.
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! Things are getting out of hand, unfortunately. 45 percent of Marylanders have high blood pressure, 47 percent have high cholesterol, and 23 percent have diabetes, the state Department of Health says.
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. A thick bread slice, roast beef slices or a burger patty, and a pile of french fries or hash browns are everything you need. The last thing that you have to do is pour sausage gravy over it. Yep, we also feel like we have bottled one of those things by reading about it.
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. These efforts, sadly, did not bear much fruit. The state may not be in the 25 fattest states in the country, but for Virginians, its consistently high rate does not bode well.
Honorable Mention Virginia – 30.1% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Rhode Island – 30% Obesity Rate
Rhode Island may not be an actual island, but it still has good seafood! Just a head up, most of them are fried and bruised. If you see plates of fried calamari, fish, and oysters stacked high, we’re sure you won’t! You would be smart, however to keep an eye on the calories that you are eating. The World Population Review said that thirty percent of Rhode Islanders suffer from obesity.
Honorable Mention Rhode Island – 30% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Arizona – 29.5% Obesity Rate
Unfortunately, 29.5% of the people living in Arizona are obese. Thanks to the efforts of the state government, it is probably marginally better than the number has plateaued. However, it could still be so much better. The local food has a lot of heavy Mexican influences, due to its closeness to our neighbor. This may explain why reducing the incidence of obesity has been so hard for locals.
Honorable Mention Arizona – 29.5% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Oregon – 29.4% Obesity Rate
It is easy to imagine the great outdoors when it comes to the subject of Oregon. This is why hearing that it has higher rates of obesity than its neighbors shocks so many people! The state has worked hard to flatten the curve, but not much has been done. 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
A huckleberry is one of the things most people associate with Idaho. For the purple berries, everything from ice cream to cheesecake to syrup is added! Ever since, they’ve been getting more coverage. Did you know that there are secret family-owned huckleberry farms all over the state? All the sugar, unfortunately, has taken a toll on the locals. It may have anything to do with the obesity rate of 29.3 percent in Idaho.
Honorable Mention Idaho – 29.3% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Maine – 29.1% Obesity Rate
New England’s biggest state has an obesity rate of 29.1 percent. This also makes it the second-fattest one in the city. NBC News was given an interesting hypothesis by a medical expert: “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
In Wyoming, you can have any of the bison burgers, lamb, elk, sausage gravy, and chicken-fried steak you like. However this does not imply that you do! 11,500 ranches and farms exist within the province. This may be why 28.8 percent of the population in the state are obese. It might look grim, but the figures are somewhat lower than the national average. Though it is not optimal, it is better off than many other nations.
Honorable Mention Wyoming – 28.8% Obesity Rate
Honorable Mention: Florida – 28.4% Obesity Rate
In the past, the Sunshine State was on the receiving end of several jokes. In terms of the obesity rate, Florida is faring much better than the rest of the country. At 28.4 percent, it is 35th out of the 50 states. The Florida Department of Health is also working to minimize the statistics through programs that encourage fitness, provide healthy choices at reduced costs, and promote workplace and school initiatives.
Honorable Mention Florida – 28.4% Obesity Rate
Colorado – 22.6% Obesity Rate
Colorado is according to estimates, the state with the lowest number of obese citizens. Around 23% of the adults residing in this state were obese in 2017, the lowest rate in the nation. However the number of obese people keeps rising. Those in Colorado aged between 45 and 64 are more likely to be obese. Of course the state is taking steps and seeking to lower those figures by raising awareness and passing relevant legislation.
Colorado 22.6% Obesity Rate
District of Columbia – 23% Obesity Rate
According to a survey conducted, there was a 1.9 percent drop in obesity in District residents in 2012 – relative to 2011. It is most common among adults aged 40-64 in the Columbia district. Today, the second-lowest rate of obesity in the United States, just above Colorado, is in this neighborhood. In the Columbia district, 17.8 percent of kids were overweight, while 17.7 percent were obese. Surveys carried out found that they lacked nutrition and did not do adequate physical activity.
District Of Columbia 23% Obesity Rate
Hawaii – 23.8% Obesity Rate
On the obesity scale, Hawaii may have numbered among the lowest states in America, but things have taken a wrong turn in heaven. 23.5 percent of people have said they do zero physical activity because the Hawaiian population does not do much overall exercise. Not to mention, 37% of adults in the states have said they eat less than one fruit a day, opting for choices that are unhealthier. No state is safe, it seems, from this epidemic.
Hawaii 23.8% Obesity Rate
California – 25.1% Obesity Rate
In terms of obesity, California in the United States is ranked 4th lowest. Less than one in every four adults living in California is believed to be obese. For those aged 18 to 25, there is a 12.7 percent prevalence of obesity. For those 26 to 44, twenty-four percent. Those between 45 and 64, 31 percent, and those over 65, 24.4 percent. In California, while there are many problems to think about, being overweight is not one of those problems.
California 25.1% Obesity Rate
Montana – 25.3% Obesity Rate
The obesity rate in Montana is among the lowest in the world as of 2019. It is in 6th position in terms of the lowest rates of obesity. Just over 26 percent of Montana’s residents are obese. This is a testament to the state services that endorse safe and unprocessed foods in schools and hospitals. Montana as a whole is working on the problem of obesity and improving the public’s general wellbeing.
Montana 25.3% Obesity Rate
Utah – 25.3% Obesity Rate
Though Utah has a lower obesity rate than many other states, that doesn’t mean it’s doing well. Even though most people in the state are relatively safe, they are still steadily gaining weight – but not as much as the rest of the world, according to the annual “State of Obesity” study made by the Trust for America’s Health. The statistics clearly show how the national epidemic of obesity is getting worse.
Utah 25.3% Obesity Rate
Connecticut – 29.1% Obesity Rate
As we all know, obesity is a major health problem in the United States. Nearly one adult in three is affected. 21.6 percent of all adults in the state indicated that in at least a month they had not taken part in any physical activity. That’s though 28.5 percent of adults have recently recorded three or more times a day eating vegetables. All the same, Connecticut is another state that needs to take action to improve the health of the public.
Connecticut 29.1% Obesity Rate
Guam – 33.6%
About 30 percent of Guam’s citizens are obese. The number of overweight adults in Guam has steadily increased over time, posing an increasing threat to the population. Around 60 percent of Guam’s deaths are caused by unhealthy lifestyle and diet habits associated with chronic diseases. This suggests that most Guam deaths are due to problems with obesity and weight, which makes it a deadly epidemic.
Guam 33.6%
Massachusetts – 25.2% Obesity Rate
Between 2015 and 2016, the adult obesity rate in Massachusetts fell significantly, creating a bit of optimism in the state. Similarly, the state is facing a 25.2 percent obesity rate in its population, meaning that it is still serious enough to pose a concern. To remedy the issue, the state has taken measures. They also created programs for clean water, increased expectations for diet, healthy living, physical activity, and more.
Massachusetts 25.2% Obesity Rate
Minnesota – 30.1% Obesity Rate
Minnesota’s adult obesity rate has stayed relatively stable in 2018 and 2019, but that doesn’t mean it’s all right. According to the Department of Health, Minnesota has an obesity rate of 30.1 percent. Nearly one in three adults suffers from obesity. Aside from the fact that Minnesota’s obesity rate is lower than the national average, it is also lower than its surrounding states. To name a few, there are obesity rates above 33 percent in North Dakota, South Dakota and Dakota.
Minnesota 30.1% Obesity Rate
Nebraska – 34.1% Obesity Rate
Apart from the fact that Nebraska is on the higher end of American obesity rates, for many years now its rate has been increasing. From 2013 to 2018, the numbers have grown steadily. Just over a third of the population today weights in as being obese. As isolated projects calling for lifestyle improvements are not doing enough, major changes for residents of Nebraska seem to need to be placed in effect.
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. The numbers are steadily increasing, sadly, leading to more cases of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Although obesity initiatives are being developed across the states, it does not seem like they are doing any good just yet for the population. Nevertheless, one of the few states to mandate higher quality requirements for children’s school lunches is Nevada.
Nevada 30.6% Obesity Rate
New Hampshire – 31.8% Obesity Rate
New Hampshire is in a very grim state: almost two out of three adults and over a fifth of are overweight or obese. The only positive thing to say is that for at least five years now this rate has held steady. To begin reversing this deadly trend, it is clear that governments, the food industry, and individuals need to take action. Despite the proportion, only 9 percent of adults in New Hampshire suffer from diabetes or obesity-related conditions.
New Hampshire 31.8% Obesity Rate
New Jersey – 27.7% Obesity Rate
When it comes to obesity, New Jersey seems to be faring better than most of the country. That isn’t to suggest that they’re doing well. Just like all the other nations, New Jersey is slowly getting heavier. However the state is taking some serious steps to fix the issue. In 2020, an initiative was developed to enhance the general health of citizens of New Jersey. “Healthy New Jersey 2020” seeks to accomplish multiple health-centered targets by the end of the year in order to promote healthier lifestyle choices.
New Jersey – 27.7% Obesity Rate