West Virginia: 41.2%. Mississippi: 40.1%. Arkansas: 40.0%. Louisiana: 39.9%. Alabama: 39.2%. Five states, all Southern, all above 39% adult obesity. Meanwhile, Colorado sits at 24.9%. The 17-point gap between highest and lowest is not random. It reveals what works.
What Does the Map Show?
The top 5 obesity states form a geographic cluster in the South. The South averages 34.7% obesity while the West averages 29.1%. Three states have crossed the 40% threshold. Every U.S. state now exceeds 20% obesity. The pattern is environmental, not individual.
What Drives the Gap?
The environments in states with the highest obesity rates often present the highest barriers to healthy living. For instance, food scarcity limit access to fresh produce, while car-dependent communities reduce daily physical activity. This is compounded by dramatic regional variations in healthcare infrastructure and increasing economic stress. Ultimately, the environment significantly shapes health outcomes.
What Does Success Look Like?
Colorado and DC keep obesity rates under 25%. They share common features: walkable communities, outdoor recreation culture, strong public health investment, and policies that make healthy choices easier. Hawaii at 26.1% and Massachusetts at 27.4% follow similar patterns. Prevention works when environments support it.
The 17-point gap is not destiny. It measures investment in environments that support health. Every community can build more walkable streets, improve food access, and strengthen healthcare infrastructure. The states with the lowest obesity rates prove what is possible. When we make healthy choices easier, entire communities flourish.