CDC PLACES County-Level Data

Obesity Rates by State

The national average county-level obesity rate is 36.1% of adults. Obesity is the strongest predictor of diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions that drive rural hospital utilization. States with the highest obesity rates face outsized healthcare demand with fewer resources to meet it.

36.1%

National Average

States Above 35%

Highest (42.8%)

Lowest (27.4%)

Obesity Prevalence Map

Average county-level adult obesity prevalence by state. Darker colors indicate higher rates. Click a state for its full health profile.

25%

45%+

Avg county-level adult obesity prevalence (CDC PLACES)

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All 50 States Ranked by Obesity Rate

Sorted by highest average county-level obesity rate. Click any column header to re-sort.

#	State	Avg Obesity % ▼	Avg Diabetes %	Rural %	Hospital Deserts
1	MississippiMS	42.8%	17.7%	53.8%	9
2	LouisianaLA	42.5%	17.1%	21.5%	6
3	AlabamaAL	42.2%	17.2%	28.2%	8
4	West VirginiaWV	41.8%	17.1%	41.9%	15
5	ArkansasAR	41.2%	15.6%	45.6%	21
6	OklahomaOK	41.0%	14.6%	36.7%	5
7	TennesseeTN	40.2%	15.4%	28.2%	24
8	IndianaIN	40.1%	13.8%	23.8%	18
9	NebraskaNE	39.6%	12.5%	40.5%	27
10	OhioOH	39.5%	14.1%	20.7%	11
11	IowaIA	39.4%	12.4%	48.4%	10
12	South CarolinaSC	39.4%	17.0%	21.2%	10
13	WisconsinWI	39.2%	12.5%	34.1%	8
14	MissouriMO	39.0%	13.9%	30.7%	47
15	North DakotaND	39.0%	12.2%	55.3%	18
16	IllinoisIL	38.9%	12.9%	16.2%	25
17	KansasKS	38.7%	12.7%	40.5%	10
18	GeorgiaGA	38.5%	15.8%	20.9%	56
19	MichiganMI	38.1%	13.3%	20.1%	13
20	VirginiaVA	37.9%	14.4%	16.2%	65
21	North CarolinaNC	37.8%	14.3%	27.8%	23
22	TexasTX	37.7%	15.1%	15.4%	75
23	South DakotaSD	37.1%	13.6%	62.0%	21
24	MinnesotaMN	37.0%	11.8%	30.7%	8
25	DelawareDE	36.7%	13.3%	29.4%	0
26	MarylandMD	36.4%	12.7%	8.9%	3
27	AlaskaAK	36.2%	11.2%	43.5%	20
28	OregonOR	35.5%	13.0%	28.3%	4
29	New MexicoNM	35.2%	15.2%	38.4%	7
30	NevadaNV	35.1%	13.1%	12.2%	3
31	FloridaFL	34.8%	14.6%	5.7%	11
32	WashingtonWA	34.3%	11.6%	16.5%	3
33	WyomingWY	34.3%	11.7%	70.0%	0
34	MaineME	34.1%	12.3%	52.8%	1
35	MontanaMT	33.6%	11.9%	57.7%	7
36	IdahoID	33.4%	11.7%	32.5%	11
37	ArizonaAZ	33.3%	13.9%	13.5%	1
38	New YorkNY	33.2%	11.3%	12.1%	5
39	New HampshireNH	32.0%	10.1%	47.4%	0
40	UtahUT	31.7%	10.7%	15.4%	6
41	ConnecticutCT	30.7%	10.2%	8.8%	0
42	VermontVT	30.7%	9.6%	74.1%	2
43	CaliforniaCA	30.1%	12.1%	8.2%	2
44	New JerseyNJ	30.1%	10.9%	2.1%	1
45	Rhode IslandRI	29.5%	10.5%	3.6%	1
46	HawaiiHI	28.6%	13.0%	25.8%	1
47	MassachusettsMA	28.1%	10.1%	4.9%	0
48	ColoradoCO	27.4%	10.7%	20.2%	16
49	KentuckyKY	—	—	48.9%	44
50	PennsylvaniaPA	—	—	18.5%	9

Source: CDC PLACES (county-level model-based estimates), RUCA codes (rural classification), CMS Provider of Services (hospital data).

Obesity and Rural Healthcare Access

Obesity is the leading modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and several cancers. In rural America, obesity rates run 5 to 8 percentage points higher than in urban areas, driven by limited access to healthy food options, fewer recreational facilities, and lower rates of physical activity.

For rural hospitals, high community obesity rates translate to higher emergency department volumes, more surgical complications, longer lengths of stay, and increased readmission risk. Hospitals in high-obesity states operate under greater clinical demand while often serving populations with lower commercial insurance coverage.

Understanding where obesity prevalence is highest — and how it correlates with diabetes, hospital deserts, and workforce shortages — is essential for effective resource allocation and prevention program design.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is obesity measured in this data?

The CDC PLACES dataset uses model-based estimates of adult obesity (BMI ≥ 30) at the county level. Estimates are derived from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and adjusted for county-level demographics. RHT Compass averages county estimates to produce state-level scores.

Why are obesity rates higher in rural areas?

Multiple factors contribute: rural residents have less access to grocery stores with fresh produce (food deserts), fewer sidewalks and parks for physical activity, lower median incomes, and fewer healthcare providers offering weight management programs. These structural factors compound over time.

How does obesity affect hospital financial performance?

Obese patients require more resources per encounter: longer surgeries, higher complication rates, longer stays, and more readmissions. For rural hospitals on thin margins, a population with higher-than-average obesity creates structural cost pressure that standard reimbursement rates may not cover.

See Obesity & Health Data for Your State

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Obesity and diabetes prevalence from CDC PLACES (model-based county-level estimates). Rural classification from USDA RUCA codes. Hospital data from CMS Provider of Services. Last updated: 2026-02-15.