America’s most overweight states revealed: Full list of the most and least obese US states

Obesity rates across the US are climbing to record levels, and a new nationwide ranking shows exactly where the crisis is hitting hardest. The report, compiled by WalletHub using 31 public health and lifestyle indicators, identifies states where limited access to healthy food, low physical activity, and economic hardship are combining to fuel some of the highest obesity and chronic disease rates in the country — costing billions in healthcare and reshaping workforce health and life expectancy.Most to least overweight and obese states in the US

What’s driving the divide

Several contributing factors influence why some states experience higher rates:

For example, West Virginia — which ranks first — has high rates of sugary beverage intake among teens, lower availability of fitness facilities, and significantly elevated rates of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The cost of the obesity crisis

Obesity-related health conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and joint complications cost the US an estimated $173 billion per year. States with the highest obesity rates also experience:

Experts also note that the growing popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications reflects both progress in medical treatment and deepening reliance on pharmaceutical solutions.Health professionals emphasise that individual effort works best when supported by community environments. Effective approaches include: