Both Carolinas Rank Among 2025’s Most Overweight & Obese States in America

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Charlotte Stories
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A new study released this week ranks South Carolina as the 13th most obese state in America and North Carolina as 20th, highlighting growing public health concerns across our region.

The new report from WalletHub arrives just as November’s National Diabetes Awareness Month begins, drawing attention to obesity’s role in rising diabetes and heart disease rates nationwide.

Most Overweight & Obese States in the US

Overall Rank*  State Total Score  Obesity & Overweight Prevalence Rank  Health Consequences Rank  Food & Fitness Rank 
1 West Virginia 75.24 1 1 36
2 Mississippi 73.56 2 11 19
3 Arkansas 70.19 3 10 12
4 Louisiana 69.50 4 15 1
5 Alabama 68.16 6 8 8
6 Tennessee 68.00 9 7 2
7 Kentucky 66.48 8 13 10
8 Texas 65.94 5 30 11
9 Delaware 64.87 11 5 43
10 Oklahoma 64.86 7 31 18
11 Maine 63.54 29 2 16
12 Ohio 63.30 12 24 15
13 South Carolina 62.99 13 23 23
14 North Dakota 62.52 27 6 14
15 Kansas 62.44 15 19 7
16 New Mexico 62.01 10 36 42
17 Georgia 61.86 14 25 21
18 Michigan 61.75 25 14 4
19 Indiana 61.07 16 27 22
20 North Carolina 60.97 20 21 5
21 Nebraska 60.69 18 32 13
22 Maryland 60.44 24 12 38
23 Missouri 60.18 19 28 29
24 Wisconsin 59.55 26 26 28
25 Pennsylvania 59.23 28 22 32
26 Iowa 59.23 17 42 24
27 Illinois 58.69 22 39 20
28 Rhode Island 58.38 30 18 47
29 Nevada 58.27 31 41 3
30 Florida 57.84 38 9 44
31 Alaska 57.40 23 38 45
32 New Hampshire 57.34 45 3 33
33 Virginia 57.01 34 29 30
34 Wyoming 57.00 35 16 37
35 Arizona 56.77 21 46 31
36 Connecticut 56.03 37 34 35
37 South Dakota 55.73 32 45 26
38 New York 55.37 39 35 27
39 New Jersey 55.06 41 40 9
40 Idaho 54.75 46 17 6
41 Oregon 54.58 36 33 41
42 Vermont 54.24 48 4 48
43 Washington 53.07 42 37 40
44 District of Columbia 53.02 33 48 51
45 Montana 52.98 47 20 39
46 Minnesota 51.39 43 43 34
47 Hawaii 51.29 44 50 25
48 California 51.16 40 49 49
49 Massachusetts 48.50 49 44 46
50 Utah 45.90 50 51 17
51 Colorado 43.73 51 47 50

 

The financial analysis firm compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia using 31 health, food, and fitness metrics, grouped into three main categories — obesity prevalence, health consequences, and food and fitness access. These factors included adult and childhood obesity rates, physical inactivity, diabetes prevalence, access to healthy foods, and the number of fitness centers per capita.

The report found that obesity costs the U.S. healthcare system roughly $173 billion annually, with average obesity-related medical expenses exceeding $1,500 per person each year. Both Carolinas scored poorly in categories linked to physical inactivity, access to nutritious foods, and growing rates of Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

In South Carolina, adult obesity and diabetes rates continue to rise faster than the national average, with health experts warning of long-term strain on state healthcare systems. Meanwhile, North Carolina’s rankings show similar challenges, particularly among children and teens, where sedentary lifestyles and sugary drink consumption remain high.

Despite the troubling statistics, both states have recently increased public health funding and school nutrition initiatives aimed at curbing obesity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health departments continue to promote programs encouraging daily physical activity and healthier food access in schools and underserved communities.

Public health officials say the findings should serve as a wake-up call for families, schools, and policymakers. “We’re seeing more obesity-related diseases at younger ages,” one local health expert said. “If we don’t reverse these trends, the costs—both financial and human—will only keep rising.”

As the Carolinas work to improve nutrition education and access to healthier food options, researchers hope that increased awareness during National Diabetes Month will help shift habits and policies toward building healthier communities across both states.