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 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.

United States Overweight or Obese Population was up 0.4points in 2019, compared to the previous year.

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.

In 2021, around 27 percent of high school students in the state of West Virginia were obese, making it the state with the highest share of obese high school students that year. Colorado and Utah had the lowest obesity rates among students that year. The state with the highest share of obese adults West Virginia not only has the highest rate of obese high school students, it is also the U.S. state with the highest percentage of obese adults, which was about 41 percent as of 2023. Obesity remains a growing problem in the United States, especially in the southern states. Body image among college students In the fall of 2023, just over half of U.S. college students (18 years and older) described their weight as “about the right weight”. Almost a third of the respondents stated that they were slightly overweight, while 6.5 percent said they were very overweight. Furthermore, roughly 37 percent of college students rated their health as very good, while just two percent of this group rated their general health as poor.

In 2022, the U.S. states with the highest rates of obesity among women were Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi. At that time, almost 43 percent of women in Tennessee were considered obese. The states with the highest rates of obesity among men are West Virginia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma. Obesity: Women vs. men As of 2022, women in the United States had slightly higher rates of obesity than men. At that time, around 34.1 percent of women were considered obese, compared to 32.6 percent of men. Rates of obesity among both men and women are higher in the United States than any other OECD country, with high-calorie diets, often from fast food and sugary drinks, and large food portion sizes being partly to blame. In 2023, the mean self-reported weight among men in the United States was 199 pounds, while women reported weighing an average of 164 pounds. Which state is the most obese? As of 2022, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adult obesity in the United States, with around 41 percent of the population considered obese. Following West Virginia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Mississippi, had some of the highest rates of obesity in the country. Colorado had the lowest share of adults who were obese at that time, but still, a quarter of adults in the state were obese. West Virginia is also the state with the highest prevalence of obesity among high school students, with 27 percent of high schoolers considered obese in 2021. Obesity in childhood is associated with obesity as adults, as well as mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

In Mississippi, over seven 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 fourth, Oklahoma in seventh, and Louisiana in tenth 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 22 and 25 percent. The average for the country itself stood at just over 31 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 22 people per 100,000 died of diabetes mellitus in the United States. In the same year, roughly 165 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, Black adults had the highest obesity rates of any race or ethnicity in the United States, followed by American Indians/Alaska Natives and Hispanics. As of that time, around 42 percent of all Black adults were obese. Asians/Pacific Islanders had by far the lowest obesity rates. Obesity in the United States Obesity is a present and growing problem in the United States. An astonishing 33 percent of the adult population in the U.S. is now considered obese. Obesity rates can vary substantially by state, with around 41 percent of the adult population in West Virginia reportedly obese, compared to 25 percent of adults in Colorado. The states with the highest rates of obesity include West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Diabetes Being overweight and obese can lead to a number of health problems, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Being overweight or obese is one of the most common causes of type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not use insulin properly, causing blood sugar levels to rise. It is estimated that just over eight percent of adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is now the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for three percent of all deaths.

Performance of self-reported silhouette ranking to predict overweight and obese BMI, elevated WC, and elevated WHtR in the US, Seychelles, and Ghana.

As of 2022, in nearly every country in Europe, over half of adults were classed as overweight or obese. The highest rate was recorded in Romania with 67 percent of adults self-reporting as overweight or obese. In both Croatia and the United Kingdom, around 64 percent of adults had a BMI of over 25. Europe one of the worst affected regions Europe had the second-highest number of obese adults across the WHO regions, only behind the region of the Americas. Over 191 million adults aged 20 years were classed as obese in Europe in 2020. The number of obese adults in Europe was forecast to grow to 263 million by 2035. Problems also with childhood obesity In 2020, 89 million children in Europe were overweight, the highest across all continents. It was forecast with current trends that, by 2035, 125 million children would be overweight. A further 70 million children across the continent were classed as obese. Children that are overweight or obese are at a higher risk of developing numerous health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure.

In 2023, it was estimated that around 37 percent of adults with an annual income of less than 15,000 U.S. dollars were obese, compared to 29 percent of those with an annual income of 75,000 dollars or more. This statistic shows the percentage of U.S. adults who were obese in 2023, by income.

Between 2017 and 2021, West Virginia had the highest incidence of obesity-associated cancer in the United States, with a rate of 188 per 100,000 people. This graph shows the rate of obesity-related cancers per 100,000 people from 2017 to 2021 in the United States, by state.

This statistic shows the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults in OECD countries as of 2015. In Japan, less than four percent of adults were classified as obese. In comparison, the percentage for adults in the United States was about 38 percent.

In 2023, over 35 percent of adults in the Netherlands were classed as overweight, meaning they had a body mass index (BMI)of between 25 and 30. Furthermore, just under 16 percent of adults were obese, which is defined as having a BMI greater than 30. Trend shows an increase in obesity In 2001, less than ten percent of the Dutch population was classed as obese. Meaning that in 20 years, the proportion of obese adults in the Netherlands has increased by around five percent. The share of the overweight population in the Netherlands has not changed much since 2001, although this is mainly due to parts of the population having increased their BMI, from between 25 and 30, to greater than 30. Future trends need action According to the World Obesity Federation, the Netherlands has very little chance of meeting the 2025 target set by the UN to halt the rise in obesity. All member states had agreed to attempt to halt the prevalence of obesity in their countries at 2010 levels. As of 2020, the Netherlands were given a two percent chance of meeting the targets among women and a zero percent of chance of meeting them among men. A poor outlook that is common around the EU since every member state was given a rating that ranks as a ‘very poor chance’ of meeting the obesity targets.

In 2021, around 16 percent of deaths in Bahrain were attributed to obesity, while around nine percent of deaths in the United States were attributed to obesity. This statistic shows the percentage of deaths in select countries worldwide that were attributed to obesity in 2021.

In 2022, over 33 percent of both men and women in the United States reported themselves as obese (BMI over 30), making it the country with the highest percentage of obese adults on this list. Other selected countries on the list with a high prevalence of obesity among adults included the United Kingdom and Australia. Obesity groups in the United States In 2022, Black adults had the highest overweight and obesity rates of any race or ethnicity in the United States. Asians and Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders had the lowest rates by far, with roughly 14 percent. In 2021, about 30 percent of people aged 65 and older were obese in the United States. This estimate has been steadily increasing since 2013 when roughly 27 percent of elderly Americans were obese. Leading health problems worldwide Obesity was considered one of 2023’s biggest health problems: 25 percent of adults worldwide stated that obesity was the biggest health issue for people within their country. Around 44 percent of adults stated that mental health was the most significant problem facing their country that year.

In the United States, the rate of obesity is lower among college graduates compared to those who did not graduate from college. For example, in 2023, around 27 percent of college graduates were obese, while 36 percent of those with some college or technical school were obese. At that time, rates of obesity were highest among those with less than a high school education, at around 37 percent. Income and obesity As with education level, there are also differences in rates of obesity in the United States based on income. Adults in the U.S. with an annual income of 75,000 U.S. dollars or more have the lowest rates of obesity, with around 29 percent of this population obese in 2023. On the other hand, those earning less than 15,000 U.S. dollars per year had the highest rates of obesity at that time, at 37 percent. One reason for this disparity may be a lack of access to fresh food among those earning less, as cheap food in the United States tends to be unhealthier. What is the most obese state? As of 2023, the states with the highest rates of obesity were West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. At that time, around 41 percent of adults in West Virginia were obese. The states with the lowest rates of obesity were Colorado, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. Still, around a quarter of adults in Colorado were obese in 2023. West Virginia and Mississippi are also the states with the highest rates of obesity among high school students. Children with obesity are more likely to be obese as adults and are at increased risk of health conditions such as asthma, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea.

In 2023, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador were the provinces with the highest prevalence of obesity among adults in Canada. At that time, around 41 percent of adults in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador were considered obese. However, Ontario was the province with the highest total number of obese adults with over 3.5 million adults suffering from obesity in 2023. What percentage of Canadians are obese? Obesity among adults in Canada has increased in recent years reaching a high of 30 percent in 2023, compared to a prevalence of around 26 percent in 2015. That means in 2023, around nine million people in Canada were obese while 10.62 million were considered overweight. There is not a huge difference in the prevalence of obesity among men and women in Canada, however, men in Canada are much more likely to be considered overweight than women. Being overweight or obese can increase a person’s chances of developing a number of health conditions including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and breathing problems such as asthma. Overweight and obesity among adolescents Overweight and obesity has also increased among adolescents in Canada in recent years. In 2022, around 30 percent of adolescents in Canada aged 12 to 17 years were considered overweight or obese, compared to 19 percent in the year 2005. Male adolescents in Canada are much more likely to be overweight or obese than their female counterparts. In 2022, around 33 percent of adolescent males in Canada were overweight or obese compared to 27 percent of female adolescents. The provinces with the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents are New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.

As of 2021, approximately 69 percent of men and 59 percent of women in the United Kingdom considered themselves overweight or obese. Across the European countries featured, overweight and obesity was more prevalent among males.

In 2022, the states with the highest death rates due to heart disease were Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama. That year, there were around 257 deaths due to heart disease per 100,000 population in the state of Oklahoma. In comparison, the overall death rate from heart disease in the United States was 167 per 100,000 population. The leading cause of death in the United States Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 21 percent of all deaths in 2022. That year, cancer was the second leading cause of death, followed by unintentional injuries and COVID-19. In the United States, a person has a one in six chance of dying from heart disease. Death rates for heart disease are higher among men than women, but both have seen steady decreases in heart disease death rates since the 1950s. What are risk factors for heart disease? Although heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, the risk of heart disease can be decreased by avoiding known risk factors. Some of the leading preventable risk factors for heart disease include smoking, heavy alcohol use, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, and being overweight or obese. It is no surprise that the states with the highest rates of death from heart disease are also the states with the highest rates of heart disease risk factors. For example, Oklahoma, the state with the highest heart disease death rate, is also the state with the third-highest rate of obesity. Furthermore, Mississippi is the state with the highest levels of physical inactivity, and it has the second-highest heart disease death rate in the United States.