Study Ranks West Virginia Most Obese, South Leads

A WalletHub ranking of all 50 states and Washington, D.C., using 31 measures of weight, health risks and lifestyle factors found Southern states dominate the highest obesity and overweight rankings. West Virginia ranked first, followed by Mississippi and Arkansas; Louisiana and Alabama rounded out the top five, with Tennessee and Kentucky also in the top seven. The report highlighted high adult obesity rates, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and limited access to nutritious food and fitness facilities as factors associated with the rankings. Colorado ranked as the least overweight state. Maryland ranked 22nd and Pennsylvania 25th, while obesity-related health costs nationwide were estimated at $173 billion annually.