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, 28.3% 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 21.3% of adults are obese, the smallest share of any state in the country. Even in Colorado’s most overweight county, the obesity rate of 27.6% is below the national obesity rate. On the other end of the spectrum, in Mississippi — a state with a nation-leading 35.1% 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.
Click here to see the most obese county in every state.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
Source: RuralSWAlabama / Wikimedia Commons
1. 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)
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Source: Jet Lowe / Wikimedia Commons
2. 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)
Source: mark byzewski / Flickr
3. 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)
Source: Mor / Flickr
4. 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)
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Source: OsotedeMonte / Wikimedia Commons
5. 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)
Source: Richard Bauer / Flickr
6. 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)
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Source: JJBers / Flickr
7. 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)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
8. 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)
Source: Georgia Guercio / Wikimedia Commons
9. 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)
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Source: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q486150
10. 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)
Source: Thinkstock
11. 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)
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Source: Ken Lund / Wikimedia Commons
12. 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)
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Source: Robb01 / Wikimedia Commons
13. 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)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
14. 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)
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Source: Scott Romine / Wikimedia Commons
15. 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)
Source: J. Stephen Conn / Flickr
16. 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)
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Source: brier5hill / Flickr
17. 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)
Source: Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons
18. 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)
Source: Wikimedia Commons
19. 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)
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Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/leecannon/
20. 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)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
21. 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)
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Source: Thinkstock
22. 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)
Source: Jonathunder / Wikimedia Commons
23. 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)
Source: Thinkstock
24. 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)
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Source: Americasroof / Wikimedia Commons
Source: Americasroof / Wikimedia Commons
25. 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)
Source: Andrew Filer / Flickr
26. 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)
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Source: Ammodramus / Wikimedia Commons
Source: Ammodramus / Wikimedia Commons
27. 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)
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Source: Terry Feuerborn / Flickr
28. 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)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
29. 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)
Source: Dennis / Flicker
30. 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)
Source: BriYYZ / Flickr
31. 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)
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Source: Doug Kerr / Flickr
Source: Doug Kerr / Flickr
32. 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)
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/amerune
33. 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)
Source: Andrew Filer / Flickr
34. 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)
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Source: JaGa / Wikimedia Commons
Source: Wikimedia Commons
35. 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)
Source: Jeffrey Beall / Wikimedia Commons
36. 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)
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Source: Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US / Wikimedia Commons
Source: Bruce Fingerhood / Wikimedia Commons
37. 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)
Source: Smallbones / Wikimedia Commons
38. 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)
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Source: http://wikivisually.com/wiki/Category:Kent_County,_Rhode_Island_Registered_Historic_Place_stubs
39. 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)
Source: jessica wilson {jek in the box} / Flickr
40. 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)
Source: Steve Elliott / Flickr
41. 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)
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Source: Skye Marthaler / Wikimedia Commons
42. 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)
Source: Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons
43. 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)
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/129251626/
44. 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)
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Source: AlexiusHoratius / Wikipedia.org
45. 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)
Source: Ken Lund / Flickr
46. 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)
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Source: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons
47. 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)
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Source: NASKWV / Flickr
48. 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)
Source: Royalbroil / Wikimedia Commons
49. 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)
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Source: Joe Ennesser / Flickr
50. 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)
Detailed Findings & Methodology
The causes of obesity differ from one person to the next with some, such as genetic predisposition, outside of an individual’s control. However, across broad populations, certain unhealthy behaviors tend to be more common in populations with higher obesity rates.
Regular physical exercise can reduce the likelihood of obesity. Areas in which larger shares of adults regularly engage in physical activities — such as jogging, biking, or even gardening — often report lower than average obesity rates. In most of the counties on this list, adult physical inactivity rates are higher than they are across their respective state as a whole.
Poor diet is another factor that can lead to obesity — and diet is often significantly affected by economic circumstances. Low-income Americans can afford fewer healthy options related to diet. Cheap foods available at fast food restaurants and convenience stores tend to be calorie heavy and provide far less nutrients than more pricey foods available at grocery stores, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Partially as a result, poorer populations appear to be at greater risk of obesity than higher-income populations. Forty-three of the 50 counties on this list have a higher poverty rate than the poverty rates across their respective states.
Areas with higher obesity rates also tend to report higher incidence rates of certain diseases and conditions. For example, Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that develops over many years, and is often the result of obesity and unhealthy lifestyles characterized by poor diet and inadequate physical activity. Of the 50 counties on this list, 46 are home to a larger share of adults with diabetes than the state as a whole.
To determine the most obese county in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed county-level obesity rates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 2013, the most recent year for which data is available. Statewide obesity rates, physical activity rates, and diabetes prevalence for the same year also come from the CDC. We also considered poverty rates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey.
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