The Most And Least Obese States In The U.S.

An annual report issued late last week took another close look at obesity rates across the United States. The report found one unfortunate trend: In all 50 states, the rates are rising.

Here is a complete list of the least to most obese American states.

See any surprises?

Comments

[tazmodious]

05:40 PM on 08/04/2011

Where I'm from in Pennsylvania, there are lot's of farmers markets and access to healthy organic foods from Amish and Mennonite farms. The Appalacian trail is 10minutes away and there are miles and miles of trails. The area is surrounded by State Game Lands which have very few restrictions, except that it is wise to stay out during hunting season.

However, this area has a huge number of obese people. Its a cultural mindset. People don't want to walk, bike or get out and prefer to eat unhealthy foods even though the options to do so abound.

I also think genetics plays a huge role as those of our ancestors who were best able to store fat were able to live longer in times of famine. Out genetics change on times scales of hundreds of thousands to millions of years and we probably still have many of the genetic characteristics that our ancestors needed to survive.

[yellowdog71]

01:40 PM on 07/19/2011

No wonder the righties were so crazy mad at Michelle Obama for wanting kids to eat better food, she was targeting their base: all the southern states!

[samy murphy]

02:47 PM on 07/16/2011

It's sad that in our most fit state, one in five people is obese. There are no bragging rights there.

[daniel higgins]

02:10 PM on 07/13/2011

HAWAII #4??????? What if there no Orientals there?

[voteindepen]

04:11 PM on 07/12/2011

my state Colorado is number 1 there is always something to do in Colorado doesnt matter if it is winter or summer

[Niasia]

12:08 PM on 07/12/2011

Well of course DC is #5...there's only a gym on almost every corner. It's also good for outdoor workouts. However this weather we have now has me wondering how people are out running. I nicely ran on the treadmill in a/c!

[TYRANNASAURUS]

11:52 AM on 07/12/2011

How Obese Is Your State?

I don't care how FAT any state is....I just keep an eye on my 31 inch waist.

[perlican]

10:51 AM on 07/12/2011

Seems to us living this side of the pond in the UK that we're headed in much the same way as the US.

Having said that, the US has a more serious problem - there is absolutely no expectation that anybody will WALK anywhere (indeed, there are no sidewalks in some towns), no drink can be served in anything less than half gallon cups, no food will be served that isn't covered in melted cheese or suchlike (and the sheer quantities wasted are staggering to the average Brit); you serve popcorn in buckets suitable for fire extinguishing!; your meat is full of growth hormones which are clearly being absorbed by the people that least need the growth ! - we don't have the "if you can eat it all then you won't have to pay for it" mentality, nor do we expect endless refills of our coffee cups; worst of all, of course (and it's happening here too) there's absolutely no embarrassment at the enormity of some of the real lard-asses you see - there's no longer a social stigma attached to being HUGELY overweight.

They say that we're the first generation where many can expect to die before our parents because of the damage we do with our smoking, drinking, eating etc....I read recently that nearly 50% of our schoolkids get little or no daily exercise. In short, we're in a mess both here and in the US and Government really does need to wake up to the dangers....

[SBleeder]

03:16 PM on 07/18/2011

"In short, we're in a mess both here and in the US and Government really does need to wake up to the dangers...­. "

"The government" should have no role in what people eat.

[EddieNM]

07:18 PM on 09/07/2011

Wishful thinking. The government has a huge role in what people eat because corporate special interests have been influencing what government does with boatloads of cash. To the point that there are huge subsidies for certain crops, regulators look the other way when it comes to unhealthful "foods" (remember aspartame and Rummy's influence on that one), and the government doesn't disrecommend unhealthful foods like high-fructose corn syrup, gluten, etc. because there is so much pressure from special-interest groups.

[onebluebrick]

10:07 PM on 07/11/2011

Connecticut? Immigration.

[Hcg Plan]

09:51 PM on 07/11/2011

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[gra8whit]

09:32 PM on 07/11/2011

People eat without thinking about it. The industry, in its ever endless pursuit of more sales keeps pumping up our pleasure receptors with ever more sugar and salt. Our tolerance for salt and sugar gets out of whack that find nothing acceptable unless its loaded with simple industry flavor shortcuts. People in the coast and Colorado are more aware of this, people in the South think nothing of it. Oh, and in Kentucky, they drive around with stickers on the cars and license plates proclaiming they're Friends of Coal. Stuck on Stupid.

[ywcachieve]

08:29 PM on 07/11/2011

My beautiful state of California is the 12th leanest. .. Love it!

[CenaW]

10:42 AM on 07/12/2011

California's obesity problem is mostly in the center of the state.
The great Central Valley, a culture similar to the southern states,
Faux/Limbaugh country.

[Quetzalli]

12:14 AM on 07/15/2011

That is so true! When I moved to the Central Valley from San Francisco I was shocked at the obesity problem.

[Quest2011]

07:45 PM on 07/11/2011

Rating goes mostly from blue states to red states. No surprises here

[ywcachieve]

08:27 PM on 07/11/2011

lol..I noticed that too.

[Ilea Jones]

04:19 PM on 07/11/2011

The pic shown for Mississippi is totally the Crescent City Connection in New Orleans. LOL

[polishlogician]

10:50 PM on 07/11/2011

ha, I think you're right...they're so fat, they're crowdin' in on naw'leans...

[bathroomonkey7]

03:24 PM on 07/11/2011

My home state NC has a lot of fatties trouncing around. This is one of the many reasons that I decided to hit the gym. So far I have lost 8 lbs (at 209 currently). I'm trying to get back down to my high school basketball weight of 195. I'm 6 ft 4 and tired of having to carry around my beer belly. Give me 3 more months and I will make it to my goal!!

[frank day]

06:51 PM on 07/11/2011

The ideal weight for a man you size is 171-187 lbs.

Good job losing weight! Good luck !

[polishlogician]

10:51 PM on 07/11/2011

that's quite a range for an ideal...

[JSDKoeln]

08:26 AM on 07/12/2011

Uggggg, don't give out info like that. You have absolutely no clue whatsoever as to how much lean body mass he already has as well as how dense his bones are. 6'4 and 195 is already ridiculously thin, let alone 187.

[Quest2011]

07:46 PM on 07/11/2011

Good job. It is a lot more difficult to lose weight in an obese state than it is in California