Minnesota’s Spot On The Fattest States List May Surprise You
A new nationwide study just weighed in on which states are carrying the most extra pounds, and the results might not be what you’d expect. While some states topped the list for expanding waistlines, Minnesota’s ranking may raise a few eyebrows.
Waistlines Keep Expanding Across America — Even in Minnesota
It’s not exactly a secret that waistlines have been expanding over the years, both here in Minnesota and across the country. Despite my best efforts, I know mine sure has! Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirm these suspicions.
According to the CDC, being overweight has almost become the new normal, with nearly 40 percent-- about four in ten American adults-- now considered obese. Even kids and teens are seeing higher numbers than ever before.
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WalletHub Study Reveals Which States Are the Most Overweight
But which states top the list of Most Overweight States in America? That's the question the crew over at WalletHub set out to answer. And Minnesota's place on their list in 2025 just might surprise you!
To compile their results, WalletHub looked at all 50 states along with the District of Columbia and compared 31 key categories, including the share of obese and overweight population, to sugary-beverage consumption among adolescents, to obesity-related health care costs. And here's what they found:
The Top 5 Most Overweight States in 2025
- 1. West Virginia
- 2. Mississippi
- 3. Arkansas
- 4. Louisiana
- 5. Alabama
The good news is that Minnesota isn't on that list. And, the Land of 10,000 Lakes didn't even make the list of the top 10, top 20, or even top 30 most overweight states, either. To find Minnesota's place on the list this year, you have to head all the way down to... #46.
Minnesota Among the Healthiest — and Fittest — States in America
That's right, Minnesota is officially the 46th most overweight state this year. Or, put another way, the North Star State is the 4th least overweight state! In fact, only Hawaii, Massachusetts, Utah, California, and Colorado are less overweight than we are here in Minnesota!
The survey notes that 43rd out of 51 in both the categories of 'Obesity & Overweight Prevalence' and 'Health Consequences,' and was ranked 34th out of 51 in the 'Food & Fitness' category. (We might have placed even higher if not for our love of the not-necessarily-healthy tater tot hotdish, am I right?!?)
Overall, the study paints Minnesota as a fairly fit state, especially compared to our neighbors behind the Cheddar Curtain in my home state of Wisconsin, which came in ranked as the 24th most overweight state, while Iowa came in ranked 26th on the list this year, as well.
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