Ranking Every U.S. State by Obesity, Exercise, and Overall Health

Obesity remains one of the most pressing public health issues facing the United States today. Nearly 40% of American adults are considered obese, making it a widespread social and economic issue impacting workforce productivity, healthcare costs, and overall quality of life. Health and wellness in the United States are facing drastic statistics, statistics we can't help but address here and now.

Geographically, obesity levels vary dramatically. Lifestyle factors such as sedentary behavior, lack of sleep, diet, and even access to healthcare play major roles in shaping these outcomes. Additionally, many of the states with the highest obesity rates also report low levels of regular exercise and elevated rates of diabetes and self-reported poor health. But what states are facing obesity epidemics, and how does each state truly rank?

247 Tempo utilizes the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report, a joint initiative between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. It includes data on self-reported adult obesity (BMI ≥ 30), physical inactivity, diagnosed diabetes, and self-rated health status across all 50 U.S. states. Additional health behavior insights were gathered from CDC datasets and supplemental county-level reports.

This is how every state ranks in terms of obesity, beginning with the least affected states and ending with the states at most risk.

Colorado

Adult obesity rate: 24.2%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 16.5%
Adults with diabetes: 7.0%
Adults in poor or fair health: 10.2%

Massachusetts

Adult obesity rate: 24.5%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 19.4%
Adults with diabetes: 7.7%
Adults in poor or fair health: 10.8%

Hawaii

Adult obesity rate: 25.0%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.4%
Adults with diabetes: 9.4%
Adults in poor or fair health: 10.3%

Vermont

Adult obesity rate: 26.3%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 17.1%
Adults with diabetes: 6.7%
Adults in poor or fair health: 10.6%

New York

Adult obesity rate: 26.5%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.2%
Adults with diabetes: 9.1%
Adults in poor or fair health: 11.8%

New Jersey

Adult obesity rate: 27.7%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 20.2%
Adults with diabetes: 8.6%
Adults in poor or fair health: 10.8%

Washington

Adult obesity rate: 28.0%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 17.5%
Adults with diabetes: 7.8%
Adults in poor or fair health: 11.8%

Nevada

Adult obesity rate: 28.1%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.9%
Adults with diabetes: 9.9%
Adults in poor or fair health: 16.7%

Florida

Adult obesity rate: 28.3%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.8%
Adults with diabetes: 9.5%
Adults in poor or fair health: 13.3%

Oregon

Adult obesity rate: 28.3%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 17.6%
Adults with diabetes: 8.4%
Adults in poor or fair health: 12.7%

Montana

Adult obesity rate: 28.9%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.0%
Adults with diabetes: 7.7%
Adults in poor or fair health: 12.1%

Utah

Adult obesity rate: 29.3%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 16.3%
Adults with diabetes: 8.5%
Adults in poor or fair health: 10.9%

Connecticut

Adult obesity rate: 29.5%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 20.2%
Adults with diabetes: 8.2%
Adults in poor or fair health: 11.0%

California

Adult obesity rate: 30.2%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.1%
Adults with diabetes: 9.2%
Adults in poor or fair health: 14.4%

New Hampshire

Adult obesity rate: 30.5%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.6%
Adults with diabetes: 7.4%
Adults in poor or fair health: 10.8%

Minnesota

Adult obesity rate: 30.6%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.7%
Adults with diabetes: 7.8%
Adults in poor or fair health: 10.0%

Wyoming

Adult obesity rate: 30.6%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.6%
Adults with diabetes: 7.5%
Adults in poor or fair health: 11.5%

Rhode Island

Adult obesity rate: 30.6%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 22.9%
Adults with diabetes: 9.0%
Adults in poor or fair health: 11.8%

Maryland

Adult obesity rate: 30.9%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 20.6%
Adults with diabetes: 9.1%
Adults in poor or fair health: 10.6%

Idaho

Adult obesity rate: 31.3%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 19.7%
Adults with diabetes: 7.9%
Adults in poor or fair health: 11.8%

Maine

Adult obesity rate: 31.3%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 19.7%
Adults with diabetes: 8.2%
Adults in poor or fair health: 11.1%

Illinois

Adult obesity rate: 32.5%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.4%
Adults with diabetes: 9.3%
Adults in poor or fair health: 12.3%

Wisconsin

Adult obesity rate: 32.7%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 19.8%
Adults with diabetes: 7.6%
Adults in poor or fair health: 12.4%

South Dakota

Adult obesity rate: 33.4%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.6%
Adults with diabetes: 6.9%
Adults in poor or fair health: 10.4%

North Carolina

Adult obesity rate: 33.6%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.9%
Adults with diabetes: 11.0%
Adults in poor or fair health: 13.5%

North Dakota

Adult obesity rate: 33.6%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.6%
Adults with diabetes: 9.3%
Adults in poor or fair health: 11.6%

Nebraska

Adult obesity rate: 34.0%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.0%
Adults with diabetes: 8.9%
Adults in poor or fair health: 10.2%

Missouri

Adult obesity rate: 34.2%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.9%
Adults with diabetes: 9.4%
Adults in poor or fair health: 15.2%

Georgia

Adult obesity rate: 34.3%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.5%
Adults with diabetes: 10.6%
Adults in poor or fair health: 15.1%

Michigan

Adult obesity rate: 35.3%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 20.2%
Adults with diabetes: 10.6%
Adults in poor or fair health: 14.7%

Kansas

Adult obesity rate: 35.8%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.4%
Adults with diabetes: 9.9%
Adults in poor or fair health: 12.8%

Texas

Adult obesity rate: 35.8%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.4%
Adults with diabetes: 12.0%
Adults in poor or fair health: 15.7%

Ohio

Adult obesity rate: 35.8%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.5%
Adults with diabetes: 10.9%
Adults in poor or fair health: 14.5%

Tennessee

Adult obesity rate: 35.8%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.6%
Adults with diabetes: 12.5%
Adults in poor or fair health: 15.7%

Delaware

Adult obesity rate: 36.2%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.6%
Adults with diabetes: 10.5%
Adults in poor or fair health: 12.8%

South Carolina

Adult obesity rate: 36.7%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.6%
Adults with diabetes: 11.9%
Adults in poor or fair health: 15.9%

Kentucky

Adult obesity rate: 37.0%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 29.3%
Adults with diabetes: 11.4%
Adults in poor or fair health: 19.5%

Oklahoma

Adult obesity rate: 37.1%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.9%
Adults with diabetes: 11.8%
Adults in poor or fair health: 17.3%

Indiana

Adult obesity rate: 37.2%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.6%
Adults with diabetes: 10.5%
Adults in poor or fair health: 15.1%

Arkansas

Adult obesity rate: 37.2%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 28.8%
Adults with diabetes: 11.7%
Adults in poor or fair health: 19.4%

Iowa

Adult obesity rate: 37.2%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 22.7%
Adults with diabetes: 8.9%
Adults in poor or fair health: 12.0%

Louisiana

Adult obesity rate: 38.3%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 28.2%
Adults with diabetes: 12.7%
Adults in poor or fair health: 19.0%

Alabama

Adult obesity rate: 39.3%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.8%
Adults with diabetes: 13.0%
Adults in poor or fair health: 18.9%

West Virginia

Adult obesity rate: 39.6%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.4%
Adults with diabetes: 13.1%
Adults in poor or fair health: 20.0%

Mississippi

Adult obesity rate: 39.9%
Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 28.9%
Adults with diabetes: 13.2%
Adults in poor or fair health: 18.7%