West Virginia Ranks As State With Highest Obesity Rate At 41%, New Study Finds

Newly released survey findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a partnership between the Centers For Disease Control and state health agencies, ranked states in America by obesity rates.

Obesity is defined as having a body mass index of 30 or more. 

According to the study, West Virginia has the highest obesity rate, 41.3%. Oklahoma has the second-highest rate, 40.3%. Louisiana has the third-highest rate, 40.0%, followed by Mississippi, 39.7%.

Tennessee followed them at 39.1%, Ohio at 38%, Alabama and Indiana at 37.9%, Delaware at 37.8%, and Kentucky at 37.8%.

The disease costs taxpayers $173 billion annually and can lead to severe medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and stroke. 

According to the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, two of every three Americans are overweight or obese. Rates are higher among black, Hispanic and Mexican Americans than white Americans. If current trends continue, half of all Americans will be obese by 2030.