The Weight of the Nation: 2013 Obesity Rates

March 6, 2014

The 2013 rankings of obesity rates among states were released by Gallup Well-Being. The report shows that Mississippi took over the top position as most obese state from West Virginia. Mississippi had an obesity rate of 35.4 percent for 2013. West Virginia had held the title of most obese state from 2010 through 2012. Mississippi has ranked among the top 10 obese states since 2008. The 10 Most Obese States were:

  • Mississippi: 35.4%
  • West Virginia: 34.4%
  • Delaware: 34.3%
  • Louisiana: 32.7%
  • Arkansas: 32.3%
  • South Carolina: 31.4%
  • Tennessee: 31.3%
  • Ohio: 30.9%
  • Kentucky: 30.6%
  • Oklahoma: 30.5%

On the other end of the spectrum, Montana took the position of least obese state from Colorado. Montana was 19.6 percent, the only state to have an rate of less than 20. The 10 Least Obese states were:

  • Montana: 19.6%
  • Colorado: 20.4%
  • Nevada: 21.1%
  • Minnesota: 22.0%
  • Massachusetts: 22.2%
  • Connecticut: 23.2%
  • New Mexico: 23.5%
  • California: 23.6%
  • Hawaii: 23.7%
  • New York: 24.0%

The national obesity rate increased slightly, from 26.2 percent in 2012 to 27.1 percent in 2013. On June 18, 2013 the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted policy that recognizes obesity as a disease requiring a range of medical interventions to advance obesity treatment and prevention.

Source: Gallop Well-Being, 2014. Mississippians Most Obese, Montanans Least Obese.
Available at: http://www.gallup.com/poll/167642/mississippians-obese-montanans-least-obese.aspx
[Accessed 6 March 2014].