In 2022, the median prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults was nearly 34%, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This marks a significant increase from about 28% a decade earlier. In every state, over 20% of adults were classified as obese in 2022.
Obesity
Obesity is linked to numerous serious health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. It also drives up healthcare costs, with annual medical expenses for obese adults being nearly $2,000 higher per person in 2019 dollars compared to those with a healthy weight.
The obesity rate in a county—reflecting the estimated percentage of obese adults based on self-reported height and weight—is one of 92 factors used to determine the 2024 U.S. News Healthiest Communities rankings. These rankings evaluate the health and well-being of nearly 3,000 counties and county equivalents across the country.
Many of the counties with the highest obesity rates are in the South. Mississippi leads with the most counties on this list, totaling 10, followed by Alabama with seven.
The following are the 26 most obese counties in the U.S., based on 2021 data from the Healthiest Communities analysis. The list also includes the counties’ overall Healthiest Communities scores on a 100-point scale, where available.
