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.

In Mississippi, over ***** out of ten adults were reported to be either overweight or obese in 2018, making it the leading U.S. state that year. Other prominent states, in terms of overweight and obesity, included Arkansas in ******, Oklahoma in *******, and Louisiana in ***** place.

Corpulence per state

When it comes to obesity, specifically, percentages were still very high for certain states. Almost forty percent of West Virginia’s population was obese in 2018. Colorado, Hawaii, and California were some of the healthier states that year, with obesity rates between ** and ** percent. The average for the country itself stood at just over ** percent.

Obesity-related health problems

Being obese can lead to various health-related complications, such as diabetes and diseases of the heart. In 2017, almost ** people per 100,000 died of diabetes mellitus in the United States. In the same year, roughly *** per 100,000 Americans died of heart disease. While the number of deaths caused by heart disease has decreased significantly over the past sixty to seventy years, it is still one of the leading causes of death in the country.

In 2023, approximately 40 percent of men in West Virginia were obese, the highest share of any state in the United States. This statistic presents the states with the highest share of men who were obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher in the U.S. in 2023.

United States US: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: Female: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 6.900 % in 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.400 % for 2009. United States US: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: Female: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 6.900 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2012, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.700 % in 2005 and a record low of 5.100 % in 1991. United States US: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: Female: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of overweight, female, is the percentage of girls under age 5 whose weight for height is more than two standard deviations above the median for the international reference population of the corresponding age as established by the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Estimates of overweight children are also from national survey data. Once considered only a high-income economy problem, overweight children have become a growing concern in developing countries. Research shows an association between childhood obesity and a high prevalence of diabetes, respiratory disease, high blood pressure, and psychosocial and orthopedic disorders (de Onis and Blössner 2003). Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death, and disability in adulthood. In addition to increased future risks, obese children experience breathing difficulties and increased risk of fractures, hypertension, early markers of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and psychological effects. Children in low- and middle-income countries are more vulnerable to inadequate nutrition before birth and in infancy and early childhood. Many of these children are exposed to high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, calorie-dense, micronutrient-poor foods, which tend be lower in cost than more nutritious foods. These dietary patterns, in conjunction with low levels of physical activity, result in sharp increases in childhood obesity, while under-nutrition continues

National Obesity Percentages by State. Explanation of Field Attributes:Obesity - The percent of the state population that is considered obese from the 2015 CDC BRFSS Survey.

The prevalence of obesity in the United States has risen gradually over the past decade. As of 2023, around ** percent of the population aged 18 years and older was obese. Obesity is a growing problem in many parts of the world, but is particularly troubling in the United States. Obesity in the United States The states with the highest prevalence of obesity are West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. As of 2023, a shocking ** percent of the population in West Virginia were obese. The percentage of adults aged 65 years and older who are obese has grown in recent years, compounding health issues that develop with age. Health impacts of obesity Obesity is linked to several negative health impacts including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Unsurprisingly, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes has increased in the United States over the years. As of 2022, around *** percent of the population had been diagnosed with diabetes. Some of the most common types of cancers caused by obesity include breast cancer in postmenopausal women, colon and rectum cancer, and corpus and uterus cancer.

United States US: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 6.000 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.800 % for 2009. United States US: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 7.000 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2012, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.100 % in 2005 and a record low of 5.400 % in 1991. United States US: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of overweight children is the percentage of children under age 5 whose weight for height is more than two standard deviations above the median for the international reference population of the corresponding age as established by the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child malnutrition estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Estimates of overweight children are also from national survey data. Once considered only a high-income economy problem, overweight children have become a growing concern in developing countries. Research shows an association between childhood obesity and a high prevalence of diabetes, respiratory disease, high blood pressure, and psychosocial and orthopedic disorders (de Onis and Blössner 2003). Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death, and disability in adulthood. In addition to increased future risks, obese children experience breathing difficulties and increased risk of fractures, hypertension, early markers of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and psychological effects. Children in low- and middle-income countries are more vulnerable to inadequate nutrition before birth and in infancy and early childhood. Many of these children are exposed to high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, calorie-dense, micronutrient-poor foods, which tend be lower in cost than more nutritious foods. These dietary patterns, in conjunction with low levels of physical activity, result in sharp increases in childhood obesity, while under-nutrition continues

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Analysis of ‘🧑 Childhood Obesity in the US’ provided by Analyst-2 (analyst-2.ai), based on source dataset retrieved from https://www.kaggle.com/yamqwe/childhood-obesity-in-the-use on 13 February 2022.

--- Dataset description provided by original source is as follows ---

About this dataset

Childhood Obesity in the United States (1971-2014)

data source: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_13_14/obesity_child_13_14.htm

Data Files

1. child_ob_gender.csv
2. obesity_child_age

Visualizations

Historical Childhood Obesity Rate by Gender

Boys tended to suffer from obesity at a higher rate than girls during 2000 through 2010. More recently however, between 2011 and 2014, boys' and girls' obesity rates converged as a result of an increase for girls and decrease for boys.

For both genders, obesity rates grew rapidly during the last two decades of the 20th century, but thankfully growth rates have lessened in recent years.

http://i.imgur.com/oyWAjys.png" alt="Imgur" style="">

Historical Childhood Obesity Rate by Age

The data show that older children have been afflicted by the obesity epidemic at a higher rate than very young children.

http://i.imgur.com/7W2Bsz3.png" alt="Imgur" style="">

This dataset was created by Health and contains around 100 samples along with Se, Percent Obese, technical information and other features such as: - Gender - Time - and more.

How to use this dataset

• Analyze Age in relation to Se
• Study the influence of Percent Obese on Gender
• More datasets

Acknowledgements

If you use this dataset in your research, please credit Health

Start A New Notebook!

--- Original source retains full ownership of the source dataset ---

Title Childhood Obese and Overweight Estimates, NM Counties 2016 - NMCHILDOBESITY2017

Summary County level childhood overweight and obese estimates for 2016 in New Mexico. Most recent data known to be available on childhood obesity

Notes This map shows NM County estimated rates of childhood overweight and obesity. US data is available upon request. Published in May, 2022. Data is most recent known sub-national obesity data set. If you know of another resource or more recent, please reach out. emcrae@chi-phi.org

Source Data set produced from the American Journal of Epidemiology and with authors and contributors out of the University of South Carolina, using data from the National Survey of Children's Health.

Journal Source Zgodic, A., Eberth, J. M., Breneman, C. B., Wende, M. E., Kaczynski, A. T., Liese, A. D., & McLain, A. C. (2021). Estimates of childhood overweight and obesity at the region, state, and county levels: A multilevel small-area estimation approach. American Journal of Epidemiology, 190(12), 2618–2629. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwab176

Journal article uses data from The United States Census Bureau, Associate Director of Demographic Programs, National Survey of Children’s Health 2020 National Survey of Children's Health Frequently Asked Questions. October 2021. Available from: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/nsch/data/datasets.html

GIS Data Layer prepared by EMcRae_NMCDC

Feature Service https://nmcdc.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=80da398a71c14539bfb7810b5d9d5a99

Alias Definition

region Region Nationally

state State (data set is NM only but national data is available upon request)

fips_num County FIPS

county County Name

rate Rate of Obesity

lower_ci Lower Confidence Interval

upper_ci Upper Confidence Interval

fipstxt County FIPS text

This data represents the age-adjusted prevalence of high total cholesterol, hypertension, and obesity among US adults aged 20 and over between 1999-2000 to 2017-2018. Notes: All estimates are age adjusted by the direct method to the U.S. Census 2000 population using age groups 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. Definitions Hypertension: Systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 80 mmHg, or currently taking medication to lower high blood pressure High total cholesterol: Serum total cholesterol greater than or equal to 240 mg/dL. Obesity: Body mass index (BMI, weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) greater than or equal to 30. Data Source and Methods Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) for the years 1999–2000, 2001–2002, 2003–2004, 2005–2006, 2007–2008, 2009–2010, 2011–2012, 2013–2014, 2015–2016, and 2017–2018 were used for these analyses. NHANES is a cross-sectional survey designed to monitor the health and nutritional status of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population. The survey consists of interviews conducted in participants’ homes and standardized physical examinations, including a blood draw, conducted in mobile examination centers.

Graph and download economic data for Inedible Tallow Stocks at Factories and Warehouses for United States (M05039USM149NNBR) from Jan 1946 to Dec 1954 about fat, inventories, and USA.

Fresh low fat, reduced fat, or skim milk, sold per gallon, regardless of packaging type. Include organic and non-organic milk."

The North America weight management products market, valued at $8.12 billion in 2025, is projected to experience robust growth, driven by increasing prevalence of obesity and related health issues, rising health consciousness, and growing demand for convenient and effective weight loss solutions. The market's Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.38% from 2025 to 2033 indicates a steady expansion, with the market size expected to surpass $11 billion by 2033. Key drivers include the proliferation of functional foods and beverages incorporating weight management ingredients, alongside a surge in demand for personalized nutrition plans and telehealth services supporting weight loss journeys. Growth is further fueled by innovative product development, including advanced dietary supplements and meal replacement options catering to diverse dietary needs and preferences. Market segmentation reveals that meal replacements and supplements hold significant market share, while hypermarkets and supermarkets represent the dominant distribution channel. The United States commands the largest regional market share within North America, followed by Canada and Mexico, reflecting higher obesity rates and greater health-conscious consumer base in these regions. However, challenges exist including concerns about the safety and efficacy of certain products, alongside the rise of misinformation and misleading marketing claims, requiring increased regulatory oversight and industry self-regulation to maintain consumer trust. The competitive landscape is characterized by established players like Abbott Laboratories, Nestle S.A., and Herbalife Nutrition, alongside several smaller, specialized companies. These companies are constantly innovating to meet evolving consumer demands, focusing on product diversification, strategic partnerships, and expanding their online presence. Future growth opportunities lie in tapping into the growing demand for personalized and technologically-driven weight management solutions, including wearable fitness trackers integrated with nutrition apps and personalized dietary recommendations based on genetic predisposition. Moreover, focusing on sustainability and ethical sourcing of ingredients will become increasingly important for maintaining brand reputation and attracting environmentally and socially conscious consumers. This necessitates a robust regulatory framework to ensure product safety and transparency, crucial for fostering long-term sustainable growth within this dynamic market. Recent developments include: October 2022: Two pre-workout formulations featuring the carefully formulated paroxetine caffeine metabolite were released by Muscle Tech. The brand made two new products, EUPHORiQand BURN iQ. These products are made available on MuscleTech.com and through online stores like Amazon., July 2022: Herbalife Nutrition company launched its new product that assists in managing weight in the United States. The fat-release product is formulated with litramine. The company claims that the ingredient helps in reducing fat absorbed from food., July 2022: Six Star Pro Nutrition partnered with Sierra Canyon School. As part of the agreement, Six Star Pro Nutrition agreed to provide Sierra Canyon athletes with its Whey Protein Plus.. Notable trends are: Increasing Prevalence of Obesity Across the Region.

In 2021-2022, Mississippi topped the ranking of states with the highest share of children/adolescents between 6 and 17 years of age who were obese. This statistic illustrates the obesity rates among children/adolescents between 6 and 17 years of age in the United States in 2021-2022, by state.

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Graph and download economic data for Wholesale Price of Lard for New York, NY (M04F6AUS35620M267NNBR) from Jan 1911 to Apr 1944 about fat, wholesale, New York, NY, price, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Industry: Creamery Butter Manufacturing (PCU311512311512) from Jun 1984 to May 2025 about dairy, fat, manufacturing, PPI, industry, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Surveys comparing obesity rates among adults in the United States in 2019 and 2023 revealed that both years presented similar trends. Adults aged 45–65 years old had the highest obesity rates in both years. Additionally, obesity rates increased across all age groups in 2023 compared to 2019. This statistic depicts the percentage of adults in the United States with obesity in 2019 and 2023, by age.

Between 2015 and 2018, obesity rates in U.S. children and adolescents stood at 19.3 and 20.9 percent, respectively. This is a noteworthy increase compared to the percentages seen between 1988 and 1994.

U.S. high school obesity rates

Roughly 18 percent of black, as well as Hispanic students in the United States, were obese between 2016 and 2017. Male obesity rates were noticeably higher than those of female students for each of the ethnicities during the measured period. For example, about 22 percent of male Hispanic high school students were obese, compared to 14 percent of female students. The American states with the highest number of obese high school students in 2019 included Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas, respectively. Mississippi had a high school student obesity rate of over 23 percent that year.

Physically inactive Americans

Adults from Mississippi and Arkansas were also reported to be some of the least physically active people in the United States in 2018. When surveyed, over 30 percent of adults from Kentucky and Arkansas had not exercised within the preceding 30 days. The national physical inactivity average stood at approximately 26 percent that year.