The fattest states of America: Where do you live?

All photos courtesy of HHS.gov

Where do you live? And what are the fattest states in America? Current theory about the overweight and obesity epidemic lists environment as one of the primary causes. This means that where you live can have a major impact on the size and shape of your body. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released their latest data on the fattest states in America. All statistics are from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is the primary, population wide, tool used for measuring weight related health in the United States. It uses a calculation based on height and weight to give researchers data. A healthy BMI in the US is one between 18.5 and 24.9. This group has the lowest mortality rate that is not accident related. A BMI ranging from 25 to 29.9 is considered to be overweight. Those with a BMI greater than 30 are considered to be medically obese, and those above with a BMI above 40 are considered to be morbidly obese. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute has an online BMI calculator so that you can find your own BMI.

Incredibly, the CDC obesity and overweight numbers are considered to be pretty conservative. The federal government’s Weight-control Information Network says that “About two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight, and almost one-third are obese, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001 to 2004.”

There are three ways to determine the fattest states: Obesity rate, overweight but not yet obese rate, and fewest people at a health body weight. The first list seems to indicate that the obesity problem is centered in the Southern states and the Midwest. However, the overweight but not yet obese list shows the Northeastern states and the Western states are catching up and are poised to greatly increase their obesity numbers. The final list shows states where having a normal and healthy BMI would make you an ever shrinking minority.

Adult Obesity Rate: The fattest states in America

#1    Mississippi      33.3%
#2    Alabama           32.2%
#3    West Virginia   31.9%
#4    Tennessee      31.2%
#5    Oklahoma        30.9%
#6    South Carolina 30.6%
#7    Kentucky            30.2%
#8    Arkansas           29.5% (tie)
#8    Michigan           29.5% (tie)
#8   North Carolina  29.5% (tie)
#11  Ohio                   29.2%
#12  Missouri            29.0%

Overweight but not yet obese adults:

#1   North Dakota    39.6%
#2   New Jersey       38.5%
#3   Alaska                38.4%
#4   Connecticut       38.3%
#5   New Hampshire 38.2%
#6   Rhode Island     37.9%
#7   Minnesota           37.6%
#8   Wisconsin          37.5% (tie)
#8   Iowa                     37.5% (tie)
#8   Kansas               37.5% (tie)
#11 Montana             37.4%
#12 Texas                  37.2%
#13 California           37.1%
#14 Idaho                  37.0%
#14 Nevada              37.0%

Fewest at normal weight:

#1   West Virginia    31.1%
#2   Alabama            32.0% (tie)
#2   Tennessee       32.0% (tie)
#4   Mississippi       32.5%
#5   Kentucky            33.2%
#6   Oklahoma         33.4%
#7   Texas                 33.8%
#8   South Carolina 34.1%
#9   North Carolina  34.2%
#10 Arkansas           34.3% (tie)
#10 Kansas              34.3% (tie)
#12 Missouri             34.4%
#13 Alaska                34.5%