The Fattest States List

LiveScience Staff

Date: 26 August 2011 Time: 10:31 AM ET

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

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