46 States Have Obesity Rate Of 25% Or Higher: Obesity Rate Highest In West Virginia At 38%

In 46 states, more than 25% of the adult population was obese in 2013-2014. The adult obesity rate was highest in West Virginia, at 37.7%, and lowest in Colorado, at 22.3%. Adult obesity rates exceeded 30% in 25 states and exceeded 35% in five states. Obesity is defined in adults as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher; among youth, the definition is statistical and is based on comparison to a reference population. In 2000, no single state had obesity rate above 25%; as of 2017, 46 states have an obesity rate of 25% or . . .