[Amazing] 25 Most Obese States in the United States of America
America is a big country – and we’re not talking about land mass. The sea-to-shining-sea country has the largest waistlines in the world, often drawing the ridicule or contempt of other countries. It may not surprise you to learn that most of the fattest Americans are centered around the South and Midwest. These two regions boast notoriously poor health when it comes to diet and exercise. In fact, 22 of the 25 states on our list have obesity rates over 30% and no state in the country has a rate lower than 20%, not even outdoorsy Colorado or Hawaii. Unsurprisingly, obesity rates are on the rise (especially in the obese states). Pretty soon, 1 in every 4 Americans will be obese – which is a terrible and dangerous thing. (As it stands, over 1 in 3 Americans are already obese.)
Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI – a common method to measure healthy weight levels) of 30 or above. Overweight falls between 25.0 – 29.9 and healthy falls between 18.5 – 24.9 for adults.) Though 34.9% adult obesity may not seem insurmountable, combined with the numbers of overweight adults the percentage goes up to 68.6% – meaning only 1 in 3 people are actually in a healthy weight range.
Compared to 1960, the average American adult weights 24 pounds more today. High levels of obesity overburden an already-stressed healthcare system which now has to deal with higher levels of illness such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. For these reasons and more, the United States needs to do everything it can to curb the growing obesity epidemic. To find out which states are the worst offenders, check out this list of the 25 Most Obese States in the United States.
Note: All data has been derived from the State of Obesity most recent 2014 numbers, published in September 2015.
Cover Image: alancleaver via Flickr
North Carolina - 29.7%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikipedia
North Carolina starts off our list of the fattest states in the USA with a whopping 29.7% obesity rate. Though at the bottom of our list, the state’s obesity rate has risen at an alarming speed, going from 12.3% in 1990 to 20.9% in 2000 to its current near-30%. Particularly troubling is that 15.4% of 2-to-4 year olds from low-income families are obese, making obesity a struggle for many Carolinians since infancy.
Alaska - 29.7%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikipedia
It doesn’t come as a surprise to us that people who can rarely leave their house due to the cold would be some of the most obese in the country. Though Alaska had the third lowest rates of diabetes in the country, obesity-related cancers are expected to triple by 2030.
South Dakota - 29.8%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Pixabay
Made up largely of German, Scandinavian, and Irish immigrants, South Dakota is one of the fattest states in America. A diet high in beef and grains has played a major role in the state’s decline since the foods are some of its primary agricultural products.
Missouri- 30.2%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikimedia
Tied with the next two states, Missouri has some of the most relaxed tobacco and alcohol laws in the country. Combined with lack of exercise and poor diet, the unhealthy lifestyles of many Missourians means cases of heart disease will increase five fold over the next 15 years.
Pennsylvania - 30.2%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikimedia
Pennsylvania has a magnificent food heritage, largely a result of the baking tradition of the Pennsylvania Dutch – who were actually Germans. The food most associated with Pennsylvania isn’t the healthiest; the state is the leader manufacturing of pretzels and potato chips and the center of American chocolate production.
Nebraska - 30.2%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: beatboxbadhabit via Flickr
Nebraska has one of the highest health disparities by education level in the country. As seen in other states, the more education a person has, the less likely they are to be obese. In Nebraska, 39% of people who had not finished high school were obese compared to 35% who had some college and 25% who graduated college.
Georgia - 30.5%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikipedia
Perhaps due to the state’s strong history of farming, Georgians eat more vegetables than many other states. But, the often unhealthy cooking techniques counter out the benefits. In 2014, Georgians again decreased their amount of daily exercise, ranking 41st among states with citizens who regularly exercise.
Michigan - 30.7%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Pixabay
Tied with #17 for obesity rates, Michigan has the 12th highest rate of physical inactivity in the country. Across all states, obesity doesn’t affect everyone equally – there’s a severe and noticeable racial divide. Research by the State of Obesity found that, compared to whites, black children see twice the number of calories advertised in fast food commercials.
Delaware - 30.7%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Pixabay
The racial divide is further seen in Delaware where 37% of blacks and 32% of Latinos are obese, compared with 28% of whites. Among adult women, 82% of black women are obese compared with 77% of Latino women and 63% of white women.
Iowa - 30.9%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikipedia
Despite their high obesity levels, Iowans scored better on two other health metrics: physical inactivity level and hypertension, barely avoiding the top 25 worst states in the country. A high prevalence of binge drinking leads Iowans to put on empty calories that are hard to work off. A major agricultural producer, Iowa grew 19% of the US’s corn and 30% of its pigs.
Tennessee - 31.2%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: The Blue Diamond Gallery
Yet another southern state on our list, Tennessee has the sixth highest rate of hypertension in the country. (The top twelve states for hypertension are all in the south.) The Volunteer State may be spending too much time jamming to music as it has the fifth highest national obesity rate (20.5%) among teenagers and the second highest rate of diabetes.
Wisconsin - 31.2%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: infowidget via Flickr
The largest cheese producer in America, Wisconsin makes 25% of the nation’s cheese; it also produces the same amount of the national butter load. This high-amount of fat-rich foods and a colder climate help contribute to the state’s exorbitant obesity rate.
Kansas - 31.3%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikipedia
Kansas is known for its barbeque, and it seems its residents have gotten caught up in meat smoking and forgotten about eating their greens. About 22% of Kansas residents don’t eat a vegetable each day and a whopping 41% don’t eat a piece of fruit at least daily, even though five-a-day is the recommended number.
Kentucky - 31.6%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikipedia
Though young people are less likely to be overweight, Kentucky’s high school students are the fattest in the nation with an 18% obesity rate. Kentucky always lands among the worst states for weight-related diseases and has one of the highest prevalences of cancer-related deaths and preventable hospitalizations.
Texas - 31.9%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikimedia
Everything’s bigger in Texas and that sure is true when it comes to waistlines. The Lone Star State is known for its meats, which it’s the largest producer of in the country. (It also has the most farms and acreage.) Known for its state fairs, Texas has produced some of the most unhealthy culinary creations including deep-fried Coke and deep-fried butter.
South Carolina - 32.1%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikipedia
Now we’re getting into the worst of the worst: states which routinely rank in the top ten for the lowest rates of physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption but highest in terms of weight-related diseases. South Carolina kicks off the top ten most obese states in America. Its dependence on fried food and Southern cooking (while tasty) has led to expanding waistlines and billions more in healthcare costs.
North Dakota - 32.2%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikimedia
North Dakota has one of the highest rates of Latino obesity in the country with 38% of local Latinos suffering from the condition. The oil boom has brought many new people to the Rough Rider state, but long working hours under stressful conditions has led to unhealthy eating habits. Despite being the national leader in the production of a variety of beans and wheat, it seems North Dakotans haven’t taken up these healthier foods as much as they should have.
Ohio - 32.6%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: usdagov via Flickr
Speaking of nutrition, millions of Americans don’t have access to healthy foods – and it’s driving up obesity rates. Food insecurity is the state of having limited access to adequate food and nutrition due to cost, physical proximity, or resources. Ohio has one of the highest food insecurity levels in the country, meaning many Ohioans lack access to affordable and healthy food or cannot find it in a nearby area.
Indiana - 32.7%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikipedia
One of the biggest signs of being food insecure is living in a food desert. Defined as living in a place without a supermarket within one mile (for urban areas) or 10 miles (for rural areas), food deserts can often be identified by the back-to-back string of fast food chains. Combined with high levels of smoking and air pollution, Indiana is the 7th most obese state in the United States.
Oklahoma - 33.0%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikipedia
Full of food deserts, Oklahoma has the second lowest daily consumption of fruits in the entire country. It shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that 1 in 3 Okies are obese. These rates are often worse for Native Americans, many who live on plantations far away from supermarkets and resort to drugs and alcohol to cope, further diminishing their health. In fact, low-income Native American preschoolers have the highest preschool obesity rates in the country at 21% – and that’s even before the child is four years old!
Alabama - 33.5%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikipedia
The “Heart of Dixie” may need to see a doctor for a heart transplant – Alabama has the second highest rate of hypertension and fourth highest rate of diabetes in the country. Both income and racial inequality are again seen to affect obesity levels – 42% of black Alabamans are obese compare to 30% of white Alabamans. Moreover, food insecurity is highest in households below the federal poverty line or headed by a Black or Latino person.
Louisiana - 34.9%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Wikipedia
No one can argue that Cajun cooking is darn good food, but that doesn’t help Louisiana’s position as the worst state in United Health Foundation’s ranking of health. The fourth fattest state, Louisiana also ranked lowest in the number of adults consuming at least one vegetable daily with 1 in 3 people foregoing the produce.
Mississippi - 35.5%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Shutterstock
In contrast, Mississippi has the most adults (51%) who don’t even eat a fruit each day. This isn’t shocking considering Mississippi has the highest level (22%) of food insecurity in the country. High poverty levels as the nation’s poorest state further compound the problem as does its rank as the state with the highest level of physical inactivity. Sounds like it’s time for locals to lay off the iced tea and lemonade and get active.
West Virginia - 35.7%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: Pixabay
The second fattest (and second poorest) state in the country also has the highest rate of diabetes and hypertension. Rising drug-related deaths and numbers of impoverished children give West Virginia a deep hole to dig itself out of. (The hole might be better thought of as an imprint on the couch.) Despite not dealing with as much food insecurity as other states and being one of the states with the highest outdoor recreation potential, many West Virginians aren’t very optimistic. (The death rate has even edged above the birth rate in recent years, making it the only such state in the country.)
Arkansas - 35.9%
Source: State of Obesity, Image: donkeyhotey via Flickr
The all-time fattest state in America is Arkansas. High levels of obesity, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles make Arkansans some of the most unhealthy people in the country. Obesity has more than doubled in the past 20 years and, combined with overweight percentages, 7 in 10 Arkansans are at unhealthy weight levels.
