Percentage of obese U.S. adults by state 2023

Published by
John Elflein,
Oct 28, 2024

West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas are the U.S. states with the highest percentage of their population who are obese. The states with the lowest percentage of their population who are obese include Colorado, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. 

Obesity in the United States

Obesity is a growing problem in many countries around the world, but the United States has the highest rate of obesity among all OECD countries. The prevalence of obesity in the United States has risen steadily over the previous two decades, with no signs of declining. Obesity in the U.S. is more common among women than men, and overweight and obesity rates are higher among African Americans than any other race or ethnicity.

Causes and health impacts

Obesity is most commonly the result of a combination of poor diet, overeating, physical inactivity, and a genetic susceptibility. Obesity is associated with various negative health impacts, including an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancer, and diabetes type 2. As of 2022, around 8.4 percent of the U.S. population had been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is currently the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.

Percentage of adults with obesity in the United States as of 2023, by state

CharacteristicPercentage of adults
West Virginia 41.2%
Mississippi 40.1%
Arkansas 40%
Louisiana 39.9%
Alabama 39.2%
Oklahoma 38.7%
Indiana 37.8%
Iowa 37.8%
Tennessee 37.6%
Nebraska 36.6%
Ohio 36.4%
Illinois 36%
Puerto Rico 36%
Showing entries 1 to 13 (52 entries in total)
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Percentage of adults41.2%41.2%40.1%40.1%40%40%39.9%39.9%39.2%39.2%38.7%38.7%37.8%37.8%37.8%37.8%37.6%37.6%36.6%36.6%36.4%36.4%36%36%36%36%36%36%36%36%35.9%35.9%35.9%35.9%35.7%35.7%35.6%35.6%35.4%35.4%35.4%35.4%35.3%35.3%35.3%35.3%35.2%35.2%35%35%34.4%34.4%34.3%34.3%34.1%34.1%34%34%33.6%33.6%33.3%33.3%33.3%33.3%32.8%32.8%32.6%32.6%32.1%32.1%31.9%31.9%31.6%31.6%31%31%30.8%30.8%30.6%30.6%30.5%30.5%30.2%30.2%30.1%30.1%29.4%29.4%28.9%28.9%28.8%28.8%28%28%27.7%27.7%27.4%27.4%26.1%26.1%24.9%24.9%23.5%23.5%West VirginiaMississippiArkansasLouisianaAlabamaOklahomaIndianaIowaTennesseeNebraskaOhioIllinoisPuerto RicoSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaKansasWisconsinDelawareNorth DakotaGuamMichiganMissouriNew MexicoAlaskaGeorgiaTexasVirginiaMarylandNorth CarolinaOregonMinnesotaWyomingNew HampshireMaineVirgin IslandsArizonaRhode IslandIdahoNevadaWashingtonMontanaUtahFloridaConnecticutNew JerseyVermontNew YorkCaliforniaMassachusettsHawaiiColoradoDistrict of Columbia
0%2.5%5%7.5%10%12.5%15%17.5%20%22.5%25%27.5%30%32.5%35%37.5%40%42.5%45%47.5%

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Release date

September 2024

Region

United States

Survey time period

2023

Supplementary notes

Percentage of adults who self-reported they are obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or higher.

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