Everyone is beautiful, but health is key to a long life. This survey and article aren't about body-shaming or fat-shaming, but statistics showing states that have more people who are overweight and obese than other states. Obesity costs our health care system $147 billion per year and 70% of Americans over 20 are either overweight or obese. The U.S. has a food problem but a new survey shows which states really need to change up their diet.

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Our friends at WalletHub recently released their list of 2021's Most Overweight and Obese States. To find out which states are the most overweight and obese, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions:

  1. Obesity & Overweight Prevalence
  2. Health Consequences
  3. Food & Fitness

WalletHub looked at those three dimensions using 31 relevant metrics and then did a bunch of math we just don't want to do. After that math was finished, WalletHub determined each state and D.C.'s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score. That overall score determined each state's spot on this list.

Before we take a look at the Quad Cities area, here is a map of WalletHub's overall findings and how each state ranked on its list of 2021's Most Overweight and Obese States:

Source: WalletHub

According to WalletHub, the most overweight and obese state is West Virginia. Washington D.C. ranked as the least overweight and obese area in the U.S.

When we zoom in on the Quad City-states, one is heavier than the other. Iowa is more overweight and obese than Illinois. WalletHub found that Iowa is the 16th most overweight and obese state. Iowa has an overall score of 60.56. Here is how Iowa ranked in the three key dimensions:

  • Obesity & Overweight Prevalence - 16
  • Health Consequences - 23
  • Food & Fitness - 27

Even though Illinois has fewer overweight and obese people than Iowa, Illinois definitely isn't the lightest state. WalletHub found that Illinois is the 24th most overweight and obese state. Illinois has an overall score of 57.49. Here is how Illinois ranked in the three key dimensions:

  • Obesity & Overweight Prevalence - 20
  • Health Consequences - 42
  • Food & Fitness - 13
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WalletHub also released a map that narrows down the statistics to just obesity to find the most and least obese states. Iowa and Illinois both moved up in the ranks when it comes to this map:

Source: WalletHub

WalletHub found that Iowa is the 11th most obese state and Illinois is the 20th most obese state.

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