US News & World Report: The 10 Most Obese States in America

quote:

---

The rise of medications like Ozempic and Wegovy has injected a new dynamic into America’s struggle with obesity, prompting questions as to whether the country is at a turning point in a health epidemic that’s persisted for years.

As it stands, around 2 in 5 American adults are obese – defined as having a body mass index of 30 or above – according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The condition is associated with a host of serious medical issues – from stroke and diabetes to heart attack and cancer. It’s also estimated to cost the country’s health care system nearly $173 billion a year.

As part of the 2025 Best States rankings, U.S. News evaluated adult obesity rates for all 50 states based on self-reported survey data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a partnership between the CDC and state health departments. A state’s obesity rate factors into the public health subcategory of the Best States analysis, which provides insight into the quality of life in a state and informs the best states for health care rankings, as well as the list of the best states in the U.S. overall.

Thirty-nine states with data available for 2023 posted age-adjusted obesity rates of 30% or more, with three hitting a threshold of at least 40%.

---

quote:

---

West Virginia - 41.7%
Arkansas - 40.5%
Mississippi - 40.4%
Louisiana - 39.9%
Alabama - 39.4%
Oklahoma - 39.0%
Iowa - 37.9%
Kentucky - 37.8%
Indiana - 37.8%
Tennessee - 37.8%

---