Fattest States: Where Do Virginia, DC Rank?

WASHINGTON, DC — With so many calorie-laden treats — from Chick-fil-A and barbecue to Georgetown Cupcakes, ham, Five Guys burgers, and fried catfish — you might think Virginia and Washington, D.C., would rank high on the list of America's "fattest states."

In fact, both areas rank among the lower 50 percent of "America's fattest states," according to a new list from WalletHub, a website devoted to quality of life outside of personal finances. To find out where obesity and weight-related health problems are the most common, WalletHub says it looked at 19 key metrics in the 50 states and District of Columbia.

"Our data set ranges from share of obese and overweight population to sugary-beverage consumption among adolescents to obesity-related health care costs," the site said.

How does Virginia rate? According to WalletHub, the Commonwealth is the 38th "fattest" state, and The District is right behind at No. 39. The fittest state, according to the list, is Colorado, with Mississippi weighing in as the state where obesity is most prevalent.

The study lists these as the top 25 "fattest" U.S. states:

1. Mississippi
2. West Virginia
3. Tennessee
4. Arkansas
5. Louisiana
6. Kentucky
7. Alabama
8. Oklahoma
9. South Carolina
10. Indiana
11. Texas
12. Iowa
13. Ohio
14. Delaware
15. Kansas
16. North Carolina
17. Georgia
18. Michigan
19. North Dakota
20. New Mexico
21. Alaska
22. Nebraska
23. Florida
24. Maryland
25. Pennsylvania

Find the full report and 2017 The United States spends $200 billion on health care each year for obesity-related health problems, according to the Campaign to End Obesity.

"Lack of physical activity is a According to new report by the Physical Activity Council, nearly 81.5 million Americans aged 6 and older were completely inactive in 2016.

- By Shannon Antinori and Elizabeth Janney

Image via Pixabay