US Obesity Rankings by State

Obesity rates in the United States have reached epidemic levels, with 39.6% of American adults classified as obese, according to the Food Research and Action Center. The rates are even higher among Black and Hispanic women. Obesity is the second leading preventable cause of death after smoking and is associated with serious health conditions like heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Despite its gravity, this issue remains underreported in the news.

To identify the most obese states in the U.S., 24/7 Tempo analyzed data from the 2023 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report, a collaborative effort by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The rankings were based on the prevalence of self-reported obesity among adults 20 years and older, with obesity defined as having a body mass index of 30.0 or higher. The analysis also considered additional data from CHR on the percentage of adults aged 18 and over who report no regular leisure time activity, the percentage of adults aged 20 and older diagnosed with diabetes, and the percentage of adults aged 18 and over who report getting fewer than seven hours of sleep on average.

Obesity rates are highest in Southern states, while the West and Northeast regions have the lowest. In 16 states, over 35% of adults are obese, with the top three – Mississippi, West Virginia, and Alabama – approaching a 40% obesity rate. 

Here are the US obesity rankings by state: 

• Adult obesity rate: 24.20%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 16.50% — 2nd lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 7.00% — 3rd lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 10.20% — 3rd lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 24.50%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 19.40% — 10th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 7.70% — 8th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 10.80% — 9th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 25.00%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 18.40% — 7th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.40% — 24th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 10.30% — 4th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 26.30%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 17.10% — 3rd lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 6.70% — the lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 10.60% — 7th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 26.50%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 25.20% — 12th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.10% — 22nd lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 11.80% — 18th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 27.70%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 20.20% — 15th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 8.60% — 17th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 10.80% — 8th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 28.00%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 17.50% — 4th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 7.80% — 10th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 11.80% — 17th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 28.10%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 24.90% — 13th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.90% — 18th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 16.70% — 8th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 28.30%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 25.80% — 8th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.50% — 23rd highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 13.30% — 21st highest

• Adult obesity rate: 28.30%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 17.60% — 5th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 8.40% — 15th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 12.70% — 25th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 28.90%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 18.00% — 6th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 7.70% — 9th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 12.10% — 21st lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 29.30%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 16.30% — the lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 8.50% — 16th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 10.90% — 11th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 29.50%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 20.20% — 14th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 8.20% — 14th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 11.00% — 12th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 30.20%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 21.10% — 20th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.20% — 23rd lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 14.40% — 18th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 30.50%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 18.60% — 8th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 7.40% — 4th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 10.80% — 10th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 30.60%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 18.70% — 9th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 7.80% — 11th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 10.00% — the lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 30.60%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 21.60% — 24th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 7.50% — 6th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 11.50% — 14th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 30.60%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 22.90% — 22nd highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.00% — 20th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 11.80% — 16th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 30.90%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 20.60% — 18th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.10% — 21st lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 10.60% — 6th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 31.30%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 19.70% — 11th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 7.90% — 12th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 11.80% — 19th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 31.30%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 19.70% — 12th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 8.20% — 13th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 11.10% — 13th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 31.50%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 21.60% — 23rd lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.70% — 21st highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 14.50% — 16th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 31.60%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 23.40% — 21st highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.70% — 22nd highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 13.10% — 22nd highest

• Adult obesity rate: 31.70%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 22.50% — 24th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 11.00% — 12th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 13.80% — 19th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 31.80%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 21.10% — 21st lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 7.40% — 5th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 12.20% — 22nd lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 32.40%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 20.40% — 17th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.80% — 20th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 12.40% — 25th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 32.50%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 24.40% — 17th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.30% — 24th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 12.30% — 23rd lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 32.70%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 19.80% — 13th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 7.60% — 7th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 12.40% — 24th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 33.40%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 21.60% — 25th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 6.90% — 2nd lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 10.40% — 5th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 33.60%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 21.90% — 25th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 11.00% — 11th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 13.50% — 20th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 33.60%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 24.60% — 15th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.30% — 25th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 11.60% — 15th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 34.00%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 21.00% — 19th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 8.90% — 19th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 10.20% — 2nd lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 34.20%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 24.90% — 14th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.40% — 25th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 15.20% — 12th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 34.30%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 24.50% — 16th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 10.60% — 14th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 15.10% — 14th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 35.30%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 20.20% — 16th lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 10.60% — 15th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 14.70% — 15th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 35.80%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 21.40% — 22nd lowest
• Adults who have diabetes: 9.90% — 19th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 12.80% — 24th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 35.80%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 25.40% — 11th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 12.00% — 6th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 15.70% — 10th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 35.80%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 23.50% — 20th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 10.90% — 13th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 14.50% — 17th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 35.80%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 23.60% — 18th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 12.50% — 5th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 15.70% — 11th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 36.20%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 23.60% — 19th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 10.50% — 16th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 12.80% — 23rd highest

• Adult obesity rate: 36.70%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 25.60% — 10th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 11.90% — 7th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 15.90% — 9th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 37.00%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 29.30% — the highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 11.40% — 10th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 19.50% — 2nd highest

• Adult obesity rate: 37.10%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 27.90% — 5th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 11.80% — 8th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 17.30% — 7th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 37.20%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 25.60% — 9th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 10.50% — 17th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 15.10% — 13th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 37.20%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 28.80% — 3rd highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 11.70% — 9th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 19.40% — 3rd highest

• Adult obesity rate: 37.20%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 22.70% — 23rd highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 8.90% — 18th lowest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 12.00% — 20th lowest

• Adult obesity rate: 38.30%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 28.20% — 4th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 12.70% — 4th highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 19.00% — 4th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 39.30%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 27.80% — 6th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 13.00% — 3rd highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 18.90% — 5th highest

• Adult obesity rate: 39.60%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 27.40% — 7th highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 13.10% — 2nd highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 20.00% — the highest

• Adult obesity rate: 39.90%
• Adults who don't exercise regularly: 28.90% — 2nd highest
• Adults who have diabetes: 13.20% — the highest
• Adults who report being in poor or fair health: 18.70% — 6th highest