Which States Have Highest Obesity Rates?

In a previous post I examined the geographic variability of physical activity in the U.S. West coast states tended to have the highest rates of physical activity.

The CDC map of rates of obesity (BMI of 30 or greater) shows a similar pattern of distribution. States with higher physical activity rates show lower rates of obesity.

The five states with the highest prevalence of obesity in the general population are:

1. Mississippi 35.1%
1. West Virginia 35.1%
3. Arkansas 34.6%
4. Tennessee 33.7%
5. Kentucky 33.2%

States with the lowest rates of obesity.

1. Colorado 21.3%
2. Hawaii 21.8%
3 District of Columbia 22.9%
4. Massachusetts 23.6%
5. California 24.1%
5. Utah 24.1%

Data and chart are from the CDC website.

For more information see:

Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Data, Trends and Maps web site. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, Atlanta, GA, 2015. Available athttp://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/DNPAO/index.html.