The 10 Most Obese States In The U.S. (And The Least Obese)

In 1990, less than 15% of the population in the United States were considered obese. Between 2015-16 more than 93 million people were obese.

While it’s safe to assume that most people know the obesity rates have shot through the roof in recent years throughout the country, have you ever wondered where your state ranks? Well, wonder no longer. The list below shows the top 10 states with the highest percentages, and then stay tuned to the end of the article for the rest of the list.

Fattest States

1. Mississippi
2. West Virginia
3. Arkansas
4. Louisiana
5. Kentucky
6. Alabama
7. Iowa
8. North Dakota
9. Missouri
10. Oklahoma

It’s true the southern states come with fried fish, fried chicken and waffles, and some of the best pies around. Maybe that explains at least a good majority of this list. If your state didn’t make the top 10, take a look below to see where it ranks overall.

How We Determined Where States Ranked

This one was pretty simple. We used data from the CDC to determine the amount percentage of obesity in each state. We used the most recent data from 2018. The CDC data only accounts for self-reported obesity, which may skew it slightly. We then ranked each state. The higher the percent of obesity in each states, the more higher the state ranked in our study.

1. Mississippi

Obesity Rate: 39.5%
From the Mississippi Mud Pie to the sweet tea, it may not be so surprising to find it at the top of the list. But seriously, who can resist a delicious Po’Boy?

2. West Virginia

Obesity Rate: 39.5%
Tied for first, West Virginia is neck in neck with Mississippi for who gets the title of being the most obese.

3. Arkansas

Obesity Rate: 37.1%
We’ve moved down to the “not the worst, but also not the best” portion of the list with Arkansas coming in at 37.1 %. In fact, Arkansas has been at the top of the list since the early 2000s.

4. Louisiana

Obesity Rate: 36.8%
Through in a little Tabasco sauce and a bit of Mardi Gras celebration, and we’ve arrived at our fourth most obese state. There’s little they don’t celebrate in Louisiana. From jazz festivals to the Voodoo Experience, the residents always have a reason to eat.

5. Kentucky

Obesity Rate: 36.6%
It’s clear this state only watches (or bets on) the Kentucky Derby rather than residents racing themselves. Coming in at 36.6%, Kentucky is only a couple of points away from being named higher up on the list.

6. Alabama

Obesity Rate: 36.2%
Surprise, surprise. Yet another southern state. It’s gotta be the southern delicacies, right? Alabama hits the list with a whopping 36.2%.

7. Iowa

Obesity Rate: 35.3%
The Midwest steps up to the bat for the No. 7 spot with 35.5% of the population in Iowa being obese. If we’re being honest, the Midwest is just an extension of the South with its fried goodies and county fairs.

8. North Dakota

Obesity Rate: 35.1%
With a colder climate, it’s safe to assume people would rather stay inside under a blanket instead of going to the gym in North Dakota. Bring on the hot soup and chili. Gotta stay warm with lots of layers.

9. Missouri

Obesity Rate: 35%
The Midwestern classic “ope, lemme sneak past ya,” takes on a whole new meaning with Missouri’s 35% obese population. Plus, the state’s touchy climate makes it hard to gain motivation to do anything but switch between your winter clothes and summer clothes every other day.

10. Oklahoma

Obesity Rate: 34.8%
The next time you sing about Oklahoma, you may picture obesity rolling down the plains rather than the wind. With 34.8 of its population obese, the state comes in at No. 10 on our list.

Summary of the Most Obese States

It’s not guaranteed that these percentages represent the real number of obese people in each of these states since the data is all self-reported. But at least it gives you a good idea of where your state ranks. With Mississippi and West Virginia taking the lead, the rest of the 10 states weren’t that far behind. If your state wasn’t listed above, check out the rest of the list below.

States From Most Obese To Least

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