The Fattest States List
While moving to a new state likely won't make you fat or skinny, not all states are equal when it comes to obesity rates, according to a new Gallup poll finding that Colorado has the fewest obese residents.
The results are based on interviews of 177,237 Americans, ages 18 and older, conducted in January through June. Participants reported their height and weight, from which the researchers calculated body mass index. For this survey, BMI scores of 30 or higher were considered obese.
Read the full story about the Gallup poll. And here are tips for losing weight.
States listed by percentage of residents who are considered obese:
- Colorado: 20.1 percent
- Utah: 21.6 percent
- Connecticut: 21.7 percent
- California: 22.1 percent
- Rhode Island: 22.1 percent
- Massachusetts: 22.6 percent
- New Jersey: 22.6 percent
- Nevada: 23.6 percent
- Minnesota: 23.8 percent
- Florida: 24.2 percent
- New Hampshire: 24.4 percent
- New Mexico: 24.4 percent (22.9)
- Montana: 24.8 percent
- Hawaii: 24.8 percent
- Washington: 25.1 percent
- Vermont: 25.2 percent
- Arizona: 25.5 percent
- Oregon: 25.6 percent
- Wyoming: 25.7 percent
- Maine: 25.8 percent
- New York: 25.8 percent
- Illinois: 26.5 percent
- North Carolina: 26.7 percent
- South Dakota: 26.8 percent
- Wisconsin: 27.1 percent
- Alaska: 27.1 percent
- Georgia: 27.1 percent
- Maryland: 27.2 percent
- Virginia: 27.7 percent
- Alabama: 27.8 percent
- Tennessee: 27.8 percent
- Missouri: 27.8 percent
- Nebraska: 28.1 percent
- Idaho: 28.1 percent
- Michigan: 28.2 percent
- Pennsylvania: 28.2 percent
- Iowa: 28.3 percent
- Kansas: 28.3 percent
- Texas: 28.7 percent
- Arkansas: 28.8 percent
- Ohio: 29.0 percent
- Kentucky: 29.9 percent
- Oklahoma: 30.2 percent
- North Dakota: 30.2 percent
- Indiana: 30.5 percent
- South Carolina: 30.6 percent
- Louisiana: 31.2 percent
- Mississippi: 32.1 percent
- Delaware: 33.6 percent
- West Virginia: 34.3 percent
Follow LiveScience for the latest in science news and discoveries on Twitter @livescience and on Facebook.
Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.