Obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States. Obesity is measured as a function of the body mass index, a ratio of height to weight. A person with a body mass of 30 or greater — weighing at least 203 pounds and standing at five feet and nine inches, for example — qualifies as obese.
Obesity can increase the risk of a number of serious and often deadly diseases and conditions, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28% of Americans age 18 and older are obese. Obesity is a complex health concern with a wide range of causes that can include community and environment. Partially as a result, obesity rates can range considerably from one state to the next and even between counties of the same state.
In Colorado, just 21% of adults are obese, the smallest share of any state in the country. Even in Colorado’s most overweight county, the obesity rate of 28% is below the national obesity rate. On the other end of the spectrum, in Mississippi — a state with a nation-leading 35% obesity rate — the adult obesity rate is nearly 50% in some counties.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed county-level health data from the CDC to identify the most obese county in every state.
GREENE COUNTY, ALABAMA
Obesity rate: 46.3% (county) 32.4% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 31.7% (county) 31.5% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 21.0% (county) 13.8% (state)
Poverty rate: 37.9% (county) 17.1% (state)
BRISTOL BAY BOROUGH, ALASKA
Obesity rate: 39.7% (county) 28.4% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 21.2% (county) 22.3% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 8.5% (county) 7.1% (state)
Poverty rate: 7.3% (county) 9.9% (state)
APACHE COUNTY, ARIZONA
Obesity rate: 35.2% (county) 26.8% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 21.4% (county) 25.2% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 14.4% (county) 10.7% (state)
Poverty rate: 36.2% (county) 16.4% (state)
PHILLIPS COUNTY, ARKANSAS
Obesity rate: 45.5% (county) 34.6% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 35.9% (county) 34.4% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 16.7% (county) 11.5% (state)
Poverty rate: 33.5% (county) 17.2% (state)
STANISLAUS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Obesity rate: 32.6% (county) 24.1% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 20.0% (county) 21.4% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 9.7% (county) 10.2% (state)
Poverty rate: 18.2% (county) 14.3% (state)
KIT CARSON COUNTY, COLORADO
Obesity rate: 27.6% (county) 21.3% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 24.5% (county) 17.9% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 7.3% (county) 6.5% (state)
Poverty rate: 14.2% (county) 11.0% (state)
WINDHAM COUNTY, CONNECTICUT
Obesity rate: 29.6% (county) 25% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 24.5% (county) 24.9% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 10.1% (county) 8.3% (state)
Poverty rate: 11.2% (county) 9.8% (state)
KENT COUNTY, DELAWARE
Obesity rate: 32.8% (county) 31.1% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 27.8% (county) 27.8% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 12.8% (county) 11.1% (state)
Poverty rate: 13.2% (county) 11.7% (state)
LIBERTY COUNTY, FLORIDA
Obesity rate: 39.6% (county) 26.4% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 29.6% (county) 27.7% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 13.4% (county) 11.2% (state)
Poverty rate: 16.9% (county) 14.7% (state)
CLAYTON COUNTY, GEORGIA
Obesity rate: 38.0% (county) 30.3% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 25.3% (county) 27.2% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 11.6% (county) 10.8% (state)
Poverty rate: 24.3% (county) 16.0% (state)
HAWAII COUNTY, HAWAII
Obesity rate: 22.7% (county) 21.8% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 19.4% (county) 22.1% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 8.1% (county) 8.4% (state)
Poverty rate: 18.7% (county) 9.3% (state)
MINIDOKA COUNTY, IDAHO
Obesity rate: 34.2% (county) 29.6% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 18.3% (county) 23.7% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 10.8% (county) 8.4% (state)
Poverty rate: 17.8% (county) 14.4% (state)
ADAMS COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Obesity rate: 37.0% (county) 29.4% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 24.4% (county) 25.1% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 13.9% (county) 9.9% (state)
Poverty rate: 12.9% (county) 13.0% (state)
LAWRENCE COUNTY, INDIANA
Obesity rate: 38.2% (county) 31.8% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 30.6% (county) 31.0% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 17.7% (county) 11.0% (state)
Poverty rate: 12.9% (county) 14.1% (state)
UNION COUNTY, IOWA
Obesity rate: 37.8% (county) 31.3% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 26.4% (county) 28.5% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 13.5% (county) 9.3% (state)
Poverty rate: 12.9% (county) 11.8% (state)
SEWARD COUNTY, KANSAS
Obesity rate: 38.6% (county) 30% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 25.6% (county) 26.5% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 8.3% (county) 9.6% (state)
Poverty rate: 18.9% (county) 12.1% (state)
LESLIE COUNTY, KENTUCKY
Obesity rate: 43.2% (county) 33.2% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 34.3% (county) 30.2% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 16.0% (county) 10.6% (state)
Poverty rate: 32.5% (county) 18.5% (state)
EAST CARROLL PARISH, LOUISIANA
Obesity rate: 42.1% (county) 33.1% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 36.4% (county) 32.2% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 16.3% (county) 11.6% (state)
Poverty rate: 48.7% (county) 20.2% (state)
SOMERSET COUNTY, MAINE
Obesity rate: 35.0% (county) 28.9% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 24.8% (county) 23.3% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 13.7% (county) 9.6% (state)
Poverty rate: 18.0% (county) 12.5% (state)
SOMERSET COUNTY, MARYLAND
Obesity rate: 42.2% (county) 28.3% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 30.6% (county) 25.3% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 13.7% (county) 9.8% (state)
Poverty rate: 25.1% (county) 9.7% (state)
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
Obesity rate: 28.3% (county) 23.6% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 25.1% (county) 23.5% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 11.1% (county) 8.5% (state)
Poverty rate: 12.5% (county) 10.4% (state)
SAGINAW COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Obesity rate: 38.9% (county) 31.5% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 23.1% (county) 24.4% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 12.8% (county) 10.4% (state)
Poverty rate: 17.9% (county) 15.0% (state)
PINE COUNTY, MINNESOTA
Obesity rate: 36.2% (county) 25.5% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 26.8% (county) 23.5% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 10.6% (county) 7.4% (state)
Poverty rate: 13.7% (county) 9.9% (state)
CLAIBORNE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI
Obesity rate: 47.6% (county) 35.1% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 34.5% (county) 38.1% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 17.0% (county) 12.9% (state)
Poverty rate: 41.2% (county) 20.8% (state)
SALINE COUNTY, MISSOURI
Obesity rate: 37.6% (county) 30.4% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 29.7% (county) 28.3% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 11.0% (county) 9.6% (state)
Poverty rate: 17.1% (county) 14.0% (state)
BIG HORN COUNTY, MONTANA
Obesity rate: 38.8% (county) 24.6% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 25.9% (county) 22.5% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 13.4% (county) 7.7% (state)
Poverty rate: 27.8% (county) 13.3% (state)
THURSTON COUNTY, NEBRASKA
Obesity rate: 41.8% (county) 29.6% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 29.7% (county) 25.3% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 16.8% (county) 9.2% (state)
Poverty rate: 31.5% (county) 11.4% (state)
NYE COUNTY, NEVADA
Obesity rate: 31.5% (county) 26.2% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 29.7% (county) 23.7% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 12.5% (county) 9.6% (state)
Poverty rate: 17.2% (county) 13.8% (state)
BELKNAP COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Obesity rate: 31.3% (county) 26.7% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 22.6% (county) 22.4% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 10.6% (county) 9.2% (state)
Poverty rate: 10.3% (county) 7.3% (state)
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
Obesity rate: 34.5% (county) 26.3% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 28.3% (county) 26.8% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 11.6% (county) 9.2% (state)
Poverty rate: 18.5% (county) 10.4% (state)
MCKINLEY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
Obesity rate: 35.1% (county) 26.4% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 24.3% (county) 24.3% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 13.6% (county) 10.7% (state)
Poverty rate: 38.1% (county) 19.8% (state)
LEWIS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Obesity rate: 33.7% (county) 25.4% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 21.4% (county) 26.7% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 14.6% (county) 10.6% (state)
Poverty rate: 14.0% (county) 14.7% (state)
EDGECOMBE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
Obesity rate: 40.8% (county) 29.4% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 32.1% (county) 26.6% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 16.4% (county) 11.4% (state)
Poverty rate: 25.7% (county) 15.4% (state)
ROLETTE COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA
Obesity rate: 41.4% (county) 31% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 29.6% (county) 27.6% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 12.9% (county) 8.9% (state)
Poverty rate: 31.6% (county) 10.7% (state)
LAWRENCE COUNTY, OHIO
Obesity rate: 38.8% (county) 30.4% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 35.6% (county) 28.5% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 17.7% (county) 10.4% (state)
Poverty rate: 18.4% (county) 14.6% (state)
WASHITA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
Obesity rate: 40.6% (county) 32.5% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 29.7% (county) 33.0% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 12.6% (county) 11.0% (state)
Poverty rate: 15.9% (county) 16.3% (state)
POLK COUNTY, OREGON
Obesity rate: 34.5% (county) 26.5% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 15.9% (county) 18.5% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 13.9% (county) 9.2% (state)
Poverty rate: 15.5% (county) 13.3% (state)
FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Obesity rate: 38.5% (county) 30% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 30.7% (county) 26.3% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 15.9% (county) 10.1% (state)
Poverty rate: 18.6% (county) 12.9% (state)
KENT COUNTY, RHODE ISLAND
Obesity rate: 28.8% (county) 27.3% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 21.9% (county) 26.9% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 12.8% (county) 9.3% (state)
Poverty rate: 8.2% (county) 12.8% (state)
LEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
Obesity rate: 44.3% (county) 31.7% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 30.3% (county) 26.9% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 16.9% (county) 12.5% (state)
Poverty rate: 28.2% (county) 15.3% (state)
SHANNON COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Obesity rate: 42.9% (county) 29.9% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 21.6% (county) 23.8% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 15.8% (county) 9.1% (state)
Poverty rate: 0.0% (county) 13.3% (state)
MCNAIRY COUNTY, TENNESSEE
Obesity rate: 38.6% (county) 33.7% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 35.4% (county) 37.2% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 16.9% (county) 12.2% (state)
Poverty rate: 23.1% (county) 15.8% (state)
ANGELINA COUNTY, TEXAS
Obesity rate: 37.5% (county) 30.9% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 29.4% (county) 30.1% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 12.9% (county) 10.9% (state)
Poverty rate: 19.6% (county) 15.6% (state)
BOX ELDER COUNTY, UTAH
Obesity rate: 33.5% (county) 24.1% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 20.3% (county) 20.6% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 9.9% (county) 7.1% (state)
Poverty rate: 10.3% (county) 10.2% (state)
ESSEX COUNTY, VERMONT
Obesity rate: 29.8% (county) 24.7% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 26.7% (county) 20.5% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 14.1% (county) 7.8% (state)
Poverty rate: 14.8% (county) 11.9% (state)
PETERSBURG CITY, VIRGINIA
Obesity rate: 41.4% (county) 27.2% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 26.0% (county) 25.5% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 15.6% (county) 9.8% (state)
Poverty rate: 29.4% (county) 11.0% (state)
GRAYS HARBOR COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Obesity rate: 36.9% (county) 27.2% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 25.5% (county) 20.0% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 11.6% (county) 8.6% (state)
Poverty rate: 16.6% (county) 11.3% (state)
MCDOWELL COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
Obesity rate: 42.1% (county) 35.1% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 37.5% (county) 31.4% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 17.6% (county) 13.0% (state)
Poverty rate: 37.6% (county) 17.9% (state)
MENOMINEE COUNTY, WISCONSIN
Obesity rate: 42.5% (county) 29.8% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 29.4% (county) 23.8% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 13.9% (county) 8.2% (state)
Poverty rate: 33.1% (county) 11.8% (state)
CAMPBELL COUNTY, WYOMING
Obesity rate: 34.3% (county) 27.8% (state)
Adults who do not exercise: 24.2% (county) 25.1% (state)
Adults with diabetes: 7.0% (county) 8.6% (state)
Poverty rate: 8.1% (county) 11.3% (state)
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