These Are The Fattest States In America

Global adult obesity rates have steadily increased in the past few decades, more than tripling from 5% to 16% from 1990 to 2022.

With a much higher average obesity rate of 34%, the U.S. does see variance in its overweight population across regions and states. Lifestyle, dietary habits, socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and physical activity levels all contribute to these regional differences.

This map, via Visual Capitalist’s Kayla Zhu, shows obesity rates in 2022 in each U.S. state and territory. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30.

The figures come from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are updated as of September 2023. Obesity figures are based on self-reported height and weight.

Midwest and South Have Highest Obesity Rates

In 2022, every U.S. state and territory had an obesity rate of over 20%, meaning more than one in five adults in the U.S. was obese.

Overall, the Midwest (35.8%) and South (35.6%) regions had the highest obesity rates, followed by the Northeast (30.5%) and West (29.5%)

State/Territory	Adult obesity rate in 2022
West Virginia	41.0%
Louisiana	40.1%
Oklahoma	40.0%
Mississippi	39.5%
Tennessee	38.9%
Alabama	38.3%
Ohio	38.1%
Delaware	37.9%
Indiana	37.7%
Kentucky	37.7%
Wisconsin	37.7%
Arkansas	37.4%
Iowa	37.4%
Georgia	37.0%
South Dakota	36.8%
Missouri	36.4%
Kansas	35.7%
Texas	35.5%
North Dakota	35.4%
Nebraska	35.3%
Virginia	35.2%
South Carolina	35.0%
Michigan	34.5%
Wyoming	34.3%
North Carolina	34.1%
Puerto Rico	34.1%
Minnesota	33.6%
Nevada	33.5%
Illinois	33.4%
Pennsylvania	33.4%
Arizona	33.2%
Idaho	33.2%
Maryland	33.2%
Maine	33.1%
Guam	32.7%
New Mexico	32.4%
Alaska	32.1%
Virgin Islands	32.1%
Washington	31.7%
Florida	31.6%
Utah	31.1%
Oregon	30.9%
Rhode Island	30.8%
Connecticut	30.6%
Montana	30.5%
New Hampshire	30.2%
New York	30.1%
New Jersey	29.1%
California	28.1%
Massachusetts	27.2%
Vermont	26.8%
Hawaii	25.9%
Colorado	25.0%
District of Columbia	24.3%

West Virginia recorded the highest obesity rate in the United States at 41%, followed by Louisiana and Oklahoma at 40%.

These states, characterized by high rural populations and poverty rates, are often home to many food deserts, or areas where access to fresh and healthy foods is limited, leading residents to rely more on fast food and other nutritionally poor options.

The CDC data also showed disparities in age and education level when it came to obesity prevalence.

According to the CDC, young adults were half as likely to be obese compared to middle-aged adults. Adults aged 18–24 years had the lowest prevalence of obesity (20.5%) while adults aged 45–54 years had the highest (39.9%).

Adults without a high school diploma were the most likely to be obese (37.6%) compared to 35.9% of adults with some college education, and 27.2% of college graduates.

To see how the United States ranks among the countries that have the highest obesity rates in the world, check out this graphic.