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West Virginia Is America’s Fattest State

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 7:33

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More than one in three adults is obese in most U.S. states, according to the latest CDC data. In several Southern states, the rate now exceeds 40%.

This map, via Visual Capitalist’s Bruno Venditti, shows the percentage of adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher across all 50 states and U.S. territories.

The Highest Obesity Rates Are Concentrated in the South

West Virginia tops the list, with 41.4% of adults classified as obese. Mississippi follow at 40.4%, while Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee each report rates of roughly 39%.

Rank	State or Territory	Adult Obesity Rate (2024)
1	West Virginia	41.4%
2	Mississippi	40.4%
3	Guam	40.2%
4	Louisiana	39.2%
5	Tennessee*	38.9%
6	Alabama	38.9%
7	Arkansas	38.9%
8	Indiana	38.4%
9	Virgin Islands	37.7%
10	Kansas	37.6%
11	Nebraska	37.6%
12	Wisconsin	37.4%
13	Kentucky	37.2%
14	South Dakota	37.0%
15	Ohio	36.9%
16	North Dakota	36.8%
17	Oklahoma	36.8%
18	Delaware	36.6%
19	Iowa	36.6%
20	Puerto Rico	36.2%
21	Michigan	36.1%
22	Texas	35.6%
23	Georgia	35.4%
24	Missouri	34.6%
25	South Carolina	34.6%
26	New Mexico	34.5%
27	North Carolina	34.5%
28	Illinois	34.2%
29	Nevada	34.2%
30	Pennsylvania	34.2%
31	Alaska	34.0%
32	Oregon	33.5%
33	Arizona	33.3%
34	Maine	33.2%
35	Idaho	32.7%
36	Maryland	32.7%
37	Wyoming	32.5%
38	Minnesota	32.3%
39	Virginia	32.3%
40	Connecticut	32.0%
41	Washington	31.5%
42	New Hampshire	31.1%
43	Rhode Island	31.1%
44	Montana	31.0%
45	Utah	31.0%
46	Florida	29.6%
47	New York	29.5%
48	California	29.1%
49	Vermont	29.0%
50	New Jersey	27.7%
51	Hawaii	27.0%
52	Massachusetts	27.0%
53	District of Columbia	25.5%
54	Colorado	25.0%
–	U.S. State and Territory Average	34.1%

*Note: Data for Tennessee is from 2022.

Much of the Southeast and parts of Appalachia cluster near the top of the rankings. These regions have historically faced higher poverty rates, limited healthcare access, and lower levels of physical activity. Diet patterns and food accessibility also play a role, particularly in rural communities.

The West and Northeast Report Lower Rates

Colorado stands out with the lowest adult obesity rate at 25%, followed by the District of Columbia at 25.5%. Hawaii and Massachusetts both come in at 27%, while New Jersey posts 27.7%.

Western states tend to report lower rates overall, with many in the low 30% range. Higher levels of outdoor recreation, urban density, and public health initiatives may contribute to these comparatively lower figures.

Nearly Every State Is Above 30%

A striking pattern emerges from the data: obesity is widespread across the country. Aside from a handful of states and jurisdictions, most report rates of 30% or higher.

Midwestern states such as Ohio (36.9%), Wisconsin (37.4%), and Indiana (38.4%) also report elevated rates.

Rising obesity rates are closely tied to increased healthcare costs and higher risks of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.

To learn more about healthcare, check out this graphic on America’s most common drugs.

Tyler Durden Tue, 03/17/2026 – 05:45

Source: https://freedombunker.com/2026/03/17/west-virginia-is-americas-fattest-state/

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