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The Most Obese US States, Ranked

The Most Obese US States, Ranked

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50. Colorado

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49. Massachusetts

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48. Hawaii

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47. Vermont

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46. New York

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45. New Jersey

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44. Washington

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43. Nevada

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42. Florida

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41. Oregon

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40. Montana

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39. Utah

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37. California

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36. New Hampshire

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35. Minnesota

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34. Wyoming

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33. Rhode Island

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32. Maryland

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31. Idaho

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30. Maine

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29. Arizona

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28. Pennsylvania

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27. New Mexico

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26. Alaska

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25. Virginia

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24. Illinois

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23. Wisconsin

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22. South Dakota

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21. North Carolina

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20. North Dakota

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19. Nebraska

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18. Missouri

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17. Georgia

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16. Michigan

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15. Kansas

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14. Texas

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13. Ohio

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12. Tennessee

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11. Delaware

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10. South Carolina

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8. Oklahoma

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7. Indiana

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6. Arkansas

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5. Iowa

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4. Louisiana

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2. West Virginia

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1. Mississippi

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50. Colorado
49. Massachusetts
48. Hawaii
47. Vermont
46. New York
45. New Jersey
44. Washington
43. Nevada
42. Florida
41. Oregon
40. Montana
39. Utah
38. Connecticut
37. California
36. New Hampshire
35. Minnesota
34. Wyoming
33. Rhode Island
32. Maryland
31. Idaho
30. Maine
29. Arizona
28. Pennsylvania
27. New Mexico
26. Alaska
25. Virginia
24. Illinois
23. Wisconsin
22. South Dakota
21. North Carolina
20. North Dakota
19. Nebraska
18. Missouri
17. Georgia
16. Michigan
15. Kansas
14. Texas
13. Ohio
12. Tennessee
11. Delaware
10. South Carolina
9. Kentucky
8. Oklahoma
7. Indiana
6. Arkansas
5. Iowa
4. Louisiana
3. Alabama
2. West Virginia
1. Mississippi

The United States has an obesity epidemic, an issue that has reached epic proportions. According to the Food Research and Action Center,  39.6% of American adults are considered obese, with numbers even higher for Black and Hispanic women. Obesity ranks as the second most significant preventable cause of death after smoking and can lead to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, among others.

24/7 Tempo reviewed data on obesity from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program’s 2023 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report to determine the most obese US states. States were ranked based on the prevalence of self-reported obesity among adults 20 years and older - with obesity being defined as having a body mass index of 30.0 and above.

The highest obesity rates are in Southern states, whereas the lowest rates are found in the West and Northeast regions. In 16 states, a minimum of 35% of adults are obese, and the top three states – Mississippi, West Virginia, and Alabama – have rates that approach nearly 40%. 

Several factors contribute to obesity. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many of these components are various eating patterns, physical activity levels (or lack thereof), and sleep routines. Other contributing factors that can play a role are health, genetics, and taking certain medications. Poor eating choices combined with a lack of awareness about the significance of staying physically fit all contribute to this unsettling pattern. (This is how long you need to exercise to burn off the calories from your favorite foods.)

Several lifestyle factors are likely contributing to the excess weight problem among Americans, including a sedentary lifestyle –  and 17 of the 20 states with the highest adult obesity rate report a lower share of adults exercising than the national share. These 17 states have a higher share of adults reporting being in poor or fair health than the U.S. as a whole. Additionally, only two of those 20 states report a diabetes rate (slightly) lower than the national rate. 

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