Americans are fatter than ever, new CDC data shows.
Before 2013, no state had an adult obesity prevalence of 35 percent or higher, but by 2023, 23 states had reached that alarming threshold.
Overall, one in five American adults is obese, with the Midwest and South having the highest proportions.
In 2023, four states (West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana) had the highest rates at 40 percent. This is one more state than the previous year.
The map below shows data for 2023
Overall, one in five American adults is obese, with the Midwest and South having the highest proportions.
Twenty-three states had obesity rates above 35 percent, four more than the previous year.
Although Washington DC and Colorado had the lowest numbers, no state in the entire country had fewer than one in five obese adults.
Dr. Karen Hacker, director of CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, said, “These new data highlight the need for obesity prevention and treatment options, starting with building healthier communities where people of all ages have safe places for physical activity and where health care and healthy food options are accessible and affordable for all.”
‘Preventing obesity at an early age is critical because we know that obese children often become obese adults.’
The obesity rate in the United States has increased compared to a decade ago, when no state had an obesity rate above 35 percent. The CDC says it is an “urgent priority” to address the country’s growing waistline problem.
The new data were based on CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which surveys 400,000 adults in all 50 states, D.C. and three territories.
The CDC defines obesity as having a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30.
West Virginia, which has consistently been in the top five for the past decade, had the highest obesity rate at 41.2 percent, the same as last year.
Experts have warned that the mountain state’s high ranking could be due to a widespread lack of physical activity and healthy eating.
For example, CDC data shows that nearly one in three West Virginia residents engage in no physical activity or exercise, with only Mississippi and Arkansas ranking higher.
And according to West Virginia University, the state has the highest risk of food insecurity in the country.
This can lead to residents relying on unhealthy, low-cost options, such as fast food, or skipping meals and overeating once food is available again.
The state’s obesity crisis could also be fueling several other diseases, including high rates of diabetes, high cholesterol and cancer.
Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana also surpassed the 40 percent mark. While Louisiana surpassed this threshold last year, Mississippi and Arkansas’ rates have increased over the past year.
Mississippi saw a slight increase from 39.5 percent to 40.1 percent, while Arkansas didn’t even crack the top 10 worst states last year, moving up to third place.
However, Oklahoma, which was in third place last year, bucked the trend and fell from 40 percent to 38 percent.
The CDC chart above shows obesity rates for Asian Americans, who were the least likely group to be obese.
This CDC chart shows obesity rates for non-Hispanic black Americans, the group most at risk for obesity.
Washington DC and Colorado had the two lowest obesity rates, at 23.5 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
Although up to one in four adults in these regions are still considered obese, Colorado saw a slight decline in obesity from last year.
In 2022, Colorado recorded an obesity rate of 25 percent. In DC, there was no change from the previous year.
CDC data has shown that Colorado has the highest rate of physical activity: one in six adults report getting no exercise at all.
Furthermore, a study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that people living at high altitudes, such as those in Colorado, were up to five times less likely to be obese. Researchers suggested that this could be because low oxygen levels at high altitudes may help activate the vagus nerve, which is responsible for appetite control.
As for DC, this low rate may be due to high rates of physical activity. For example, A study found that DC had the most gyms in the country, with 20 per 100,000 residents.
Additionally, a 2024 USDA report found that DC had the third-lowest rate of food insecurity, just behind North Dakota and New Hampshire.
Asian adults were the only racial or ethnic group that did not have an obesity prevalence above 35 percent in any state.
Dr. Ruth Petersen, director of CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, said: “Obesity is a complex disease. There is a common misconception that obesity is the result of a lack of willpower and people’s inability to eat well and exercise.”
‘Many factors contribute to obesity, including genes, certain medications, lack of sleep, gut microbiome, stress, access to affordable food, safe places to be active, and access to health care.’
‘Understanding these factors helps us identify potential prevention and treatment strategies.’