Most Obese States

Obesity, defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher in adults, is a significant health crisis in the United States. With nearly 42% of adults in the U.S. being classified as obese in 2020, this issue affects around 93 million people nationwide. Obesity has been linked to a multitude of health complications, including early death, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and stroke, making it a key determinant of a state's overall health levels.

• The states with the highest obesity rates are primarily concentrated in the southern regions of the United States, with West Virginia (41%), Louisiana (40.1%), and Oklahoma (40%) leading the country.
• The states with the lowest obesity rates mainly fall in the northern and western regions of the country, including Hawaii (25.9%), Colorado (25%), and the District of Columbia (24.3%).
• The prevalence of obesity among other U.S. territories is also high, with Puerto Rico (34.1%), British Virgin Islands (32.1%), and Guam (32.7%).