Across the United States, a growing concern looms as some states grapple with alarmingly high rates of overweight residents.
Behind the stark statistics lies a complex web of factors contributing to these concerning figures. Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy dietary habits, and a lack of awareness about the importance of physical fitness all play their part in this unwelcome trend. (You might be surprised at how long you need to exercise to burn off the calories from your favorite foods.)
To identify the states with the highest percentages of overweight adults and adolescents, 24/7 Tempo reviewed health data on nutrition, physical activity, and obesity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Data for Florida was unavailable, as was data on adolescents in Delaware, Indiana, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Information on the share of adults in poor or fair health and who don’t exercise on a regular basis came from 2022 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program.
Being overweight is defined as having a higher body weight than what is considered normal or healthy, usually based on body mass index – calculated by dividing a person’s weight in pounds or kilograms by their height in feet or meters. A BMI of 25.0 or more means overweight; one of 30.0 or more indicates obesity.
Different regions show varying rates of overweight adults and adolescents. Adolescents in Southern states, for instance, tend to have higher overweight rates than those in other regions. This pattern suggests that regional factors, including cultural and dietary influences, may contribute to higher BMIs. On the other hand, when it comes to adults, there is no clear trend. The top five most overweight states in the country represent the Northeast, Southeast, West, and Southwest. (Beyond merely being overweight, these are the most obese states in America.)
49. Arkansas
> Adults who are overweight: 31.7%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 19.8% — 2nd highest
> Adults in poor health: 24.1% — 2nd highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 30.4% — 7th highest
48. Alabama
> Adults who are overweight: 31.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 20.1% — the highest
> Adults in poor health: 21.4% — 6th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 30.8% — 5th highest
47. Kentucky
> Adults who are overweight: 31.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 17.8% — 9th highest
> Adults in poor health: 22.0% — 3rd highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 31.6% — 3rd highest
46. Missouri
> Adults who are overweight: 32.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.1% — 17th highest
> Adults in poor health: 17.6% — 21st highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 29.6% — 8th highest
45. Vermont
> Adults who are overweight: 32.1%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 13.7% — 13th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 12.6% — 2nd lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 19.3% — 6th lowest
44. Louisiana
> Adults who are overweight: 32.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 17.8% — 8th highest
> Adults in poor health: 21.7% — 5th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 31.5% — 4th highest
43. Oklahoma
> Adults who are overweight: 32.5%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 18.1% — 5th highest
> Adults in poor health: 21.3% — 7th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 33.4% — 2nd highest
42. North Carolina
> Adults who are overweight: 32.6%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.0% — 19th highest
> Adults in poor health: 18.5% — 14th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.9% — 25th highest
41. West Virginia
> Adults who are overweight: 33.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.5% — 13th highest
> Adults in poor health: 24.3% — the highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 29.5% — 9th highest
40. Pennsylvania
> Adults who are overweight: 33.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.5% — 16th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 17.6% — 21st highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.6% — 20th lowest
39. Ohio
> Adults who are overweight: 33.3%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 12.2% — 8th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 18.1% — 17th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.6% — 16th highest
38. Utah
> Adults who are overweight: 33.3%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 12.3% — 9th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 14.8% — 13th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.7% — 4th lowest
37. Indiana
> Adults who are overweight: 33.3%
> Adolescents who are overweight: N/A
> Adults in poor health: 18.9% — 13th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 30.6% — 6th highest
36. Mississippi
> Adults who are overweight: 33.6%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 18.0% — 6th highest
> Adults in poor health: 22.0% — 3rd highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 36.9% — the highest
35. Texas
> Adults who are overweight: 33.7%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 17.8% — 7th highest
> Adults in poor health: 20.9% — 8th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.9% — 19th highest
34. South Dakota
> Adults who are overweight: 33.7%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.6% — 25th highest
> Adults in poor health: 15.1% — 16th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 28.9% — 12th highest
33. Maryland
> Adults who are overweight: 33.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.7% — 24th highest
> Adults in poor health: 14.0% — 9th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.0% — 12th lowest
32. Virginia
> Adults who are overweight: 33.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.8% — 22nd highest
> Adults in poor health: 16.1% — 22nd lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.8% — 22nd lowest
31. Massachusetts
> Adults who are overweight: 33.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.8% — 20th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 13.4% — 5th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.0% — 23rd highest
30. Maine
> Adults who are overweight: 34.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.8% — 21st lowest
> Adults in poor health: 17.2% — 24th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 29.5% — 9th highest
29. Georgia
> Adults who are overweight: 34.1%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 18.1% — 4th highest
> Adults in poor health: 19.3% — 12th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.4% — 17th highest
28. Alaska
> Adults who are overweight: 34.1%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.0% — 23rd lowest
> Adults in poor health: 15.7% — 21st lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.6% — 9th lowest
27. Michigan
> Adults who are overweight: 34.2%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.1% — 16th highest
> Adults in poor health: 18.2% — 16th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.6% — 20th lowest
26. Iowa
> Adults who are overweight: 34.3%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.9% — 20th highest
> Adults in poor health: 13.6% — 6th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.1% — 22nd highest
25. Kansas
> Adults who are overweight: 34.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.7% — 23rd highest
> Adults in poor health: 17.1% — 25th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.7% — 20th highest
24. New York
> Adults who are overweight: 34.5%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.3% — 14th highest
> Adults in poor health: 16.4% — 24th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.0% — 18th highest
23. South Carolina
> Adults who are overweight: 34.5%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.3% — 15th highest
> Adults in poor health: 17.8% — 19th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 28.5% — 13th highest
22. Illinois
> Adults who are overweight: 34.5%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.5% — 25th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 17.1% — 25th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.1% — 23rd lowest
21. Wisconsin
> Adults who are overweight: 34.6%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.6% — 17th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 15.0% — 14th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 22.3% — 11th lowest
20. Oregon
> Adults who are overweight: 34.7%
> Adolescents who are overweight: N/A
> Adults in poor health: 17.4% — 23rd highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.5% — 15th lowest
19. North Dakota
> Adults who are overweight: 34.8%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.5% — 12th highest
> Adults in poor health: 13.3% — 4th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.9% — 14th highest
18. Minnesota
> Adults who are overweight: 34.8%
> Adolescents who are overweight: N/A
> Adults in poor health: 13.3% — 4th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 19.7% — 7th lowest
17. Delaware
> Adults who are overweight: 34.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: N/A
> Adults in poor health: 18.0% — 18th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.3% — 24th lowest
16. Nebraska
> Adults who are overweight: 35.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 12.8% — 11th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 13.9% — 8th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.6% — 21st highest
15. Montana
> Adults who are overweight: 35.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 13.0% — 12th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 14.4% — 12th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.6% — 2nd lowest
14. Hawaii
> Adults who are overweight: 35.3%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.4% — 15th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 15.3% — 17th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.9% — 17th lowest
13. Connecticut
> Adults who are overweight: 35.3%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.9% — 22nd lowest
> Adults in poor health: 14.3% — 11th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.3% — 14th lowest
12. Washington
> Adults who are overweight: 35.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: N/A
> Adults in poor health: 15.7% — 21st lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.9% — 5th lowest
11. New Mexico
> Adults who are overweight: 35.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.8% — 21st highest
> Adults in poor health: 20.0% — 11th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.8% — 22nd lowest
10. New Hampshire
> Adults who are overweight: 35.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.0% — 14th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 14.3% — 11th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.1% — 8th lowest
9. Colorado
> Adults who are overweight: 35.5%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 11.7% — 7th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 13.7% — 7th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.7% — 4th lowest
8. Idaho
> Adults who are overweight: 35.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 12.4% — 10th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 15.1% — 16th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.3% — 14th lowest
7. Nevada
> Adults who are overweight: 36.1%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.7% — 11th highest
> Adults in poor health: 20.1% — 10th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.6% — 25th lowest
6. Rhode Island
> Adults who are overweight: 36.2%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.6% — 18th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 16.3% — 23rd lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.0% — 23rd highest
5. California
> Adults who are overweight: 36.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.2% — 24th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 17.8% — 19th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 22.3% — 11th lowest
4. Tennessee
> Adults who are overweight: 36.6%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 18.3% — 3rd highest
> Adults in poor health: 20.3% — 9th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 29.0% — 11th highest
3. Arizona
> Adults who are overweight: 36.6%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 17.4% — 10th highest
> Adults in poor health: 18.3% — 15th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.6% — 16th lowest
2. Wyoming
> Adults who are overweight: 37.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: N/A
> Adults in poor health: 15.7% — 21st lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.0% — 18th lowest
1. New Jersey
> Adults who are overweight: 37.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.7% — 19th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 15.5% — 18th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.9% — 14th highest