States with the Largest Increases in Obesity

For years, obesity has been an increasing issue in the U.S. In fact, the rate of obesity is double that of its peers, according to some reports.

In 2012, 26.2% of Americans ages 18 and older were obese, which was mostly unchanged from the year before. Furthermore, another 36.1% of Americans were overweight, also unchanged from 2011.

And while it may seem the country is making some headway in combating obesity, there is a lot that needs to be done. The increase in obese Americans has been shocking over just a short amount of time.

Bloomberg ranked the U.S. states and the District of Columbia based on the growth in numbers of obese adults from 2000 to 2011. Obesity figures came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here are the states with the largest increase in obese residents from 2000 to 2011.

9. (tie) South Carolina

Myrtle Beach. Photo by Phil Guest

Percentage of obese adults 2011: 30.8%

Percentage of obese adults 2010: 22%

Obesity increase (2000-2011): 8.8%

Health weight adults for every obese one: 3.25

9. (tie) Kansas

Downtown Wichita.

Percentage of obese adults 2011: 29.6%

Percentage of obese adults 2010: 20.8%

Obesity increase (2000-2011): 8.8%

Health weight adults for every obese one: 3.38

8. Michigan

Detroit. Photo by Shawn Wilson

Percentage of obese adults 2011: 31.3%

Percentage of obese adults 2010: 22.4%

Obesity increase (2000-2011): 8.9%

Health weight adults for every obese one: 3.19

7. Indiana

Indianapolis. Photo by Daniel Schwen

Percentage of obese adults 2011: 30.8%

Percentage of obese adults 2010: 21.8%

Obesity increase (2000-2011): 9%

Health weight adults for every obese one: 3.25

6. West Virginia

Charleston

Percentage of obese adults 2011: 32.4%

Percentage of obese adults 2010: 23.2%

Obesity increase (2000-2011): 9.2%

Health weight adults for every obese one: 3.09

5. Louisiana

French Quarter, New Orleans

Percentage of obese adults 2011: 33.4%

Percentage of obese adults 2010: 23.6%

Obesity increase (2000-2011): 9.8%

Health weight adults for every obese one: 2.99

4. Mississippi

Jackson

Percentage of obese adults 2011: 34.9%

Percentage of obese adults 2010: 25%

Obesity increase (2000-2011): 9.9%

Health weight adults for every obese one: 2.87

3. Virginia

Alexandria. Photo by Zach Rudisin

Percentage of obese adults 2011: 29.2%

Percentage of obese adults 2010: 18.2%

Obesity increase (2000-2011): 11%

Health weight adults for every obese one: 3.42

2. Oklahoma

Oklahoma City

Percentage of obese adults 2011: 31.1%

Percentage of obese adults 2010: 19.7%

Obesity increase (2000-2011): 11.4%

Health weight adults for every obese one: 3.22

1. Delaware

Wilmington. Photo by Tim Kiser

Percentage of obese adults 2011: 28.8%

Percentage of obese adults 2010: 16.6%

Obesity increase (2000-2011): 12.2%

Health weight adults for every obese one: 3.47

Delaware may have the largest increase in obesity from 2000 to 2011, but it’s still far from being the most obese state in the U.S. In fact, it only ranks as the 19th most obese state.