Special Report

The US Has an Alarming Weight Problem: A Ranking of Overweight Adults in Every State

Vadym Petrochenko / Getty Images

Across the United States, a growing concern looms as some states grapple with alarmingly high rates of overweight residents.

Behind the stark statistics lies a complex web of factors contributing to these concerning figures. Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy dietary habits, and a lack of awareness about the importance of physical fitness all play their part in this unwelcome trend. (You might be surprised at how long you need to exercise to burn off the calories from your favorite foods.)

To identify the states with the highest percentages of overweight adults and adolescents, 24/7 Tempo reviewed health data on nutrition, physical activity, and obesity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Data for Florida was unavailable, as was data on adolescents in Delaware, Indiana, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Information on the share of adults in poor or fair health and who don’t exercise on a regular basis came from 2022 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program.

Click here to see a ranking of states with the most overweight residents

Being overweight is defined as having a higher body weight than what is considered normal or healthy, usually based on body mass index – calculated by dividing a person’s weight in pounds or kilograms by their height in feet or meters. A BMI of 25.0 or more means overweight; one of 30.0 or more indicates obesity.

Different regions show varying rates of overweight adults and adolescents. Adolescents in Southern states, for instance, tend to have higher overweight rates than those in other regions. This pattern suggests that regional factors, including cultural and dietary influences, may contribute to higher BMIs. On the other hand, when it comes to adults, there is no clear trend. The top five most overweight states in the country represent the Northeast, Southeast, West, and Southwest. (Beyond merely being overweight, these are the most obese states in America.)

dlewis33 / iStock via Getty Images

49. Arkansas
> Adults who are overweight: 31.7%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 19.8% — 2nd highest
> Adults in poor health: 24.1% — 2nd highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 30.4% — 7th highest

[in-text-ad]

48. Alabama
> Adults who are overweight: 31.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 20.1% — the highest
> Adults in poor health: 21.4% — 6th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 30.8% — 5th highest

47. Kentucky
> Adults who are overweight: 31.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 17.8% — 9th highest
> Adults in poor health: 22.0% — 3rd highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 31.6% — 3rd highest

Philip Rozenski / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

46. Missouri
> Adults who are overweight: 32.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.1% — 17th highest
> Adults in poor health: 17.6% — 21st highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 29.6% — 8th highest

[in-text-ad-2]

XKarDoc / iStock via Getty Images

45. Vermont
> Adults who are overweight: 32.1%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 13.7% — 13th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 12.6% — 2nd lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 19.3% — 6th lowest

44. Louisiana
> Adults who are overweight: 32.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 17.8% — 8th highest
> Adults in poor health: 21.7% — 5th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 31.5% — 4th highest

[in-text-ad]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

43. Oklahoma
> Adults who are overweight: 32.5%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 18.1% — 5th highest
> Adults in poor health: 21.3% — 7th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 33.4% — 2nd highest

J. Michael Jones / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

42. North Carolina
> Adults who are overweight: 32.6%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.0% — 19th highest
> Adults in poor health: 18.5% — 14th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.9% — 25th highest

41. West Virginia
> Adults who are overweight: 33.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.5% — 13th highest
> Adults in poor health: 24.3% — the highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 29.5% — 9th highest

[in-text-ad-2]

pawel.gaul / iStock via Getty Images

40. Pennsylvania
> Adults who are overweight: 33.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.5% — 16th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 17.6% — 21st highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.6% — 20th lowest

Silvrshootr / iStock via Getty Images

39. Ohio
> Adults who are overweight: 33.3%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 12.2% — 8th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 18.1% — 17th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.6% — 16th highest

[in-text-ad]

MargaretW / iStock via Getty Images

38. Utah
> Adults who are overweight: 33.3%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 12.3% — 9th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 14.8% — 13th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.7% — 4th lowest

csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

37. Indiana
> Adults who are overweight: 33.3%
> Adolescents who are overweight: N/A
> Adults in poor health: 18.9% — 13th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 30.6% — 6th highest

f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

36. Mississippi
> Adults who are overweight: 33.6%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 18.0% — 6th highest
> Adults in poor health: 22.0% — 3rd highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 36.9% — the highest

[in-text-ad-2]

Fang Zheng / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

35. Texas
> Adults who are overweight: 33.7%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 17.8% — 7th highest
> Adults in poor health: 20.9% — 8th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.9% — 19th highest

peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

34. South Dakota
> Adults who are overweight: 33.7%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.6% — 25th highest
> Adults in poor health: 15.1% — 16th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 28.9% — 12th highest

[in-text-ad]

ablokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

33. Maryland
> Adults who are overweight: 33.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.7% — 24th highest
> Adults in poor health: 14.0% — 9th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.0% — 12th lowest

ablokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

32. Virginia
> Adults who are overweight: 33.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.8% — 22nd highest
> Adults in poor health: 16.1% — 22nd lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.8% — 22nd lowest

FilippoBacci / E+ via Getty Images

31. Massachusetts
> Adults who are overweight: 33.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.8% — 20th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 13.4% — 5th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.0% — 23rd highest

[in-text-ad-2]

krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

30. Maine
> Adults who are overweight: 34.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.8% — 21st lowest
> Adults in poor health: 17.2% — 24th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 29.5% — 9th highest

krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images

29. Georgia
> Adults who are overweight: 34.1%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 18.1% — 4th highest
> Adults in poor health: 19.3% — 12th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.4% — 17th highest

[in-text-ad]

laughingmango / E+ via Getty Images

28. Alaska
> Adults who are overweight: 34.1%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.0% — 23rd lowest
> Adults in poor health: 15.7% — 21st lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.6% — 9th lowest

27. Michigan
> Adults who are overweight: 34.2%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.1% — 16th highest
> Adults in poor health: 18.2% — 16th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.6% — 20th lowest

SWKrullImaging / iStock via Getty Images

26. Iowa
> Adults who are overweight: 34.3%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.9% — 20th highest
> Adults in poor health: 13.6% — 6th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.1% — 22nd highest

[in-text-ad-2]

Lorraine Boogich / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

25. Kansas
> Adults who are overweight: 34.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.7% — 23rd highest
> Adults in poor health: 17.1% — 25th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.7% — 20th highest

Rawf8 / iStock via Getty Images

24. New York
> Adults who are overweight: 34.5%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.3% — 14th highest
> Adults in poor health: 16.4% — 24th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.0% — 18th highest

[in-text-ad]

Susanne Neumann / iStock via Getty Images

23. South Carolina
> Adults who are overweight: 34.5%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.3% — 15th highest
> Adults in poor health: 17.8% — 19th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 28.5% — 13th highest

pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images

22. Illinois
> Adults who are overweight: 34.5%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.5% — 25th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 17.1% — 25th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.1% — 23rd lowest

MattGush / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

21. Wisconsin
> Adults who are overweight: 34.6%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.6% — 17th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 15.0% — 14th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 22.3% — 11th lowest

[in-text-ad-2]

csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

20. Oregon
> Adults who are overweight: 34.7%
> Adolescents who are overweight: N/A
> Adults in poor health: 17.4% — 23rd highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.5% — 15th lowest

Paul Schmidt / iStock via Getty Images

19. North Dakota
> Adults who are overweight: 34.8%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.5% — 12th highest
> Adults in poor health: 13.3% — 4th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.9% — 14th highest

[in-text-ad]

csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

18. Minnesota
> Adults who are overweight: 34.8%
> Adolescents who are overweight: N/A
> Adults in poor health: 13.3% — 4th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 19.7% — 7th lowest

gregobagel / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

17. Delaware
> Adults who are overweight: 34.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: N/A
> Adults in poor health: 18.0% — 18th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.3% — 24th lowest

marekuliasz / iStock via Getty Images

16. Nebraska
> Adults who are overweight: 35.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 12.8% — 11th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 13.9% — 8th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.6% — 21st highest

[in-text-ad-2]

Lorraine Boogich / Getty Images

15. Montana
> Adults who are overweight: 35.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 13.0% — 12th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 14.4% — 12th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.6% — 2nd lowest

14. Hawaii
> Adults who are overweight: 35.3%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.4% — 15th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 15.3% — 17th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.9% — 17th lowest

[in-text-ad]

13. Connecticut
> Adults who are overweight: 35.3%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.9% — 22nd lowest
> Adults in poor health: 14.3% — 11th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.3% — 14th lowest

gmc3101 / iStock via Getty Images

12. Washington
> Adults who are overweight: 35.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: N/A
> Adults in poor health: 15.7% — 21st lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.9% — 5th lowest

Davel5957 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

11. New Mexico
> Adults who are overweight: 35.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.8% — 21st highest
> Adults in poor health: 20.0% — 11th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.8% — 22nd lowest

[in-text-ad-2]

Kirkikis / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

10. New Hampshire
> Adults who are overweight: 35.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.0% — 14th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 14.3% — 11th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.1% — 8th lowest

georgeclerk / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

9. Colorado
> Adults who are overweight: 35.5%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 11.7% — 7th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 13.7% — 7th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.7% — 4th lowest

[in-text-ad]

christiannafzger / iStock via Getty Images

8. Idaho
> Adults who are overweight: 35.9%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 12.4% — 10th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 15.1% — 16th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.3% — 14th lowest

Page Light Studios / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

7. Nevada
> Adults who are overweight: 36.1%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 16.7% — 11th highest
> Adults in poor health: 20.1% — 10th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.6% — 25th lowest

gregobagel / iStock via Getty Images

6. Rhode Island
> Adults who are overweight: 36.2%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.6% — 18th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 16.3% — 23rd lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.0% — 23rd highest

[in-text-ad-2]

hapabapa / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

5. California
> Adults who are overweight: 36.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 15.2% — 24th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 17.8% — 19th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 22.3% — 11th lowest

csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

4. Tennessee
> Adults who are overweight: 36.6%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 18.3% — 3rd highest
> Adults in poor health: 20.3% — 9th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 29.0% — 11th highest

[in-text-ad]

csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

3. Arizona
> Adults who are overweight: 36.6%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 17.4% — 10th highest
> Adults in poor health: 18.3% — 15th highest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.6% — 16th lowest

LL28 / E+ via Getty Images

2. Wyoming
> Adults who are overweight: 37.0%
> Adolescents who are overweight: N/A
> Adults in poor health: 15.7% — 21st lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.0% — 18th lowest

benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

1. New Jersey
> Adults who are overweight: 37.4%
> Adolescents who are overweight: 14.7% — 19th lowest
> Adults in poor health: 15.5% — 18th lowest
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 27.9% — 14th highest

Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)

Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?

Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.