Most and Least Obese States in the United States: New 'Winner' in Obesity

As you probably hear every day, obesity is a problem in the United States. Over the past twenty years the disease has increased dramatically, and today 35.7% of U.S. adults and 17% of children are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A recent Gallup-Healthways poll released the most and least obese states across the country. The poll focused on the ten most obese and the ten least obese states. It only shows the obesity percentage of each state, while the CDC provides healthcare costs and health risks as a result of obesity.

For example, when last recorded, medical costs of obesity exceeded $147 billion in 2008, and each obese person had costs in excess of $1,400 more than people of normal weight. Additionally, obesity contributes to a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, and some cancers--all of which are leading causes of preventable death. The fact that obesity and its risk factors can be easily avoided has created a stir in recent decades.

As of 2012 no state had an obesity rate less than 20%, nine states had a rate in between 20% - 25%, and 13 states exceeded a 30% obesity rate. The highest rates were found among Midwestern and Southern states, whereas the lowest rates were in the Northeastern and Western states. Overall, the national obesity rate rose from 26.2% in 2012 to 27.1% in 2013.

This year's poll found one state - Montana - to be the only one to have an obesity rate under 20%. They were the lowest with 19.6% compared to Mississippi who had the highest at 35.4%. Mississippi beat out West Virginia, the reigning champ from 2010-2012. West Virginia still came in second with a 34.4% rate, followed by Delaware (34.3%), Louisiana (32.7%), Arkansas (32.3%), South Carolina (31.4%), and Tennessee (31.3%).

The least obese states that followed Montana were Colorado (20.4% and last year's least obese champion), Nevada (21.1%), Minnesota (22%), Massachusetts (22.2%), Connecticut (23.2%), and New Mexico (23.5%).

To see where you state ranks, visit the poll on the Live Science website, and visit this article as well.