Obesity is a growing problem in the United States. Although some states are healthier than others – four states have adult obesity rates above 35 percent — Americans are still getting larger. The adult obesity rate now tops 20 percent in all 50 states.
It’s a sobering statistic, especially when you consider that no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent in 1991, according to the Trust for America’s Health.
According to the newly released “Fattest States” report from WalletHub, “fat” really is the “new normal” in the U.S. WalletHub ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 17 weight-related factors, including:
- Number of people who are overweight or obese
- Physical activity
- Rate of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes
- Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption
- Number of fast-food restaurants per capita
- Access to healthy food
Based on their analysis, WalletHub says these are the 20 “fattest” states, which are clustered in the Southern U.S., are:
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Kentucky
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Delaware
- Indiana
- Arizona
- North Dakota
- New Mexico
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Kansas
- Missouri
These are the least-fat states in the U.S.:
- Utah
- Colorado
- New Jersey
- Massachusetts
- Hawaii
- Connecticut
- Montana
- California
- Oregon
- Idaho
Click here to see where your state ranks.
Being overweight or obese not only costs many Americans their health, but also puts a hole in their wallet. WalletHub says Americans spend nearly $200 billion a year on health-related costs due to obesity.
How did your state rank? What do you think of America’s growing obesity issue? Sound off below or on our Facebook page.
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