Health Outcomes

Obesity Prevalence by County — US Rankings

CDC PLACES 2023 · Age-adjusted prevalence · All 3,144 US counties

Obesity is reported as the share of adults whose self-reported height and weight produce a BMI of 30 or higher. PLACES age-adjusts to the 2000 US population so a retirement-heavy county is not confounded with a college town. Self-report introduces a known downward bias (people underreport weight, overreport height), but the bias is roughly uniform across counties, so rankings are usable even though the absolute level is conservative. The highest-prevalence counties have clustered for years in the Black Belt across Alabama and Mississippi and in central Appalachia — a pattern that tracks poverty, food access, and historical labor patterns more than any single behavioral choice.

How this ranking is built

Source: CDC PLACES 2023 release. Methodology: BRFSS survey responses pooled across years, fitted with a small-area statistical model, age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population. Confidence intervals (95%) are shown for each county — wider intervals indicate more uncertainty in the modeled estimate, typically driven by smaller populations.

Lowest Obesity Rates — Top 100 Counties

Counties with the lowest reported obesity prevalence — these counties show the most favorable position on this measure.

#	County	Rate	95% CI	State
1	San Francisco County	17.1%	13.7 – 21.2	California
2	Boulder County	17.4%	14.3 – 21.0	Colorado
3	Summit County	19.3%	15.2 – 23.8	Utah
4	New York County	19.5%	17.1 – 22.0	New York
5	Pitkin County	20.3%	14.8 – 26.4	Colorado
6	La Plata County	20.8%	15.8 – 26.4	Colorado
7	Marin County	21.3%	16.3 – 27.2	California
8	Denver County	21.6%	18.4 – 25.2	Colorado
9	Santa Clara County	21.9%	18.5 – 25.7	California
10	San Mateo County	22.0%	17.7 – 26.8	California
11	Broomfield County	22.1%	17.4 – 27.6	Colorado
12	King County	22.4%	20.1 – 24.7	Washington
13	Alameda County	22.5%	18.5 – 26.3	California
14	Park County	22.5%	17.0 – 29.0	Colorado
15	Morris County	22.6%	18.7 – 26.6	New Jersey
16	Ouray County	22.8%	16.8 – 29.9	Colorado
17	Jefferson County	22.9%	19.6 – 26.2	Colorado
18	Routt County	23.0%	17.3 – 29.8	Colorado
19	Blaine County	23.1%	18.0 – 28.9	Idaho
20	Clear Creek County	23.2%	17.2 – 30.6	Colorado
21	Teller County	23.4%	17.5 – 30.3	Colorado
22	Norfolk County	23.4%	19.9 – 27.6	Massachusetts
23	Teton County	23.5%	18.4 – 29.5	Wyoming
24	Eagle County	23.6%	17.8 – 29.8	Colorado
25	Chittenden County	23.6%	20.3 – 27.0	Vermont
26	Lake County	23.7%	17.6 – 30.8	Colorado
27	Summit County	23.7%	17.7 – 30.4	Colorado
28	Garfield County	23.8%	18.2 – 29.7	Colorado
29	Grand County	23.8%	17.6 – 30.9	Colorado
30	Middlesex County	23.8%	20.5 – 27.2	Massachusetts
31	Queens County	23.8%	21.1 – 26.6	New York
32	Fairfax County	23.8%	20.1 – 27.6	Virginia
33	Orange County	23.9%	20.4 – 27.4	California
34	Hinsdale County	23.9%	17.2 – 31.6	Colorado
35	Gallatin County	24.0%	20.2 – 27.9	Montana
36	Elbert County	24.1%	17.8 – 31.2	Colorado
37	Gilpin County	24.1%	17.6 – 31.7	Colorado
38	Kauai County	24.1%	20.0 – 28.6	Hawaii
39	Wasatch County	24.1%	19.2 – 29.1	Utah
40	Larimer County	24.4%	20.7 – 28.5	Colorado
41	Hampshire County	24.4%	19.8 – 29.6	Massachusetts
42	Douglas County	24.6%	20.3 – 29.3	Colorado
43	Gunnison County	24.7%	18.5 – 32.2	Colorado
44	San Juan County	24.8%	19.8 – 30.4	Washington
45	Kings County	25.0%	22.2 – 28.0	New York
46	Mineral County	25.1%	21.2 – 29.3	Colorado
47	District of Columbia	25.1%	19.5 – 31.0	District of Columbia
48	Los Alamos County	25.1%	18.8 – 32.1	New Mexico
49	Morgan County	25.1%	18.9 – 32.3	Utah
50	Suffolk County	25.2%	21.6 – 28.9	Massachusetts
51	Arlington County	25.2%	20.6 – 30.0	Virginia
52	Coconino County	25.3%	21.3 – 29.4	Arizona
53	San Miguel County	25.3%	18.5 – 32.9	Colorado
54	Dukes County	25.3%	19.0 – 32.5	Massachusetts
55	San Diego County	25.4%	22.4 – 28.7	California
56	Chaffee County	25.4%	19.2 – 32.4	Colorado
57	Bergen County	25.4%	21.9 – 29.3	New Jersey
58	Monroe County	25.5%	20.1 – 31.5	Florida
59	Mercer County	25.5%	21.6 – 29.8	New Jersey
60	Western Connecticut Planning Region	25.6%	22.5 – 28.9	Connecticut
61	Ventura County	25.7%	21.1 – 30.8	California
62	San Juan County	25.8%	18.9 – 33.6	Colorado
63	Somerset County	25.8%	22.2 – 29.7	New Jersey
64	Arapahoe County	25.9%	22.1 – 29.8	Colorado
65	Montgomery County	25.9%	23.0 – 29.1	Maryland
66	Santa Fe County	25.9%	21.6 – 31.0	New Mexico
67	Westchester County	25.9%	22.5 – 29.6	New York
68	Honolulu County	26.0%	22.0 – 30.5	Hawaii
69	Hunterdon County	26.0%	20.7 – 31.5	New Jersey
70	Bristol County	26.0%	20.6 – 32.1	Rhode Island
71	Windham County	26.0%	21.8 – 30.7	Vermont
72	Sonoma County	26.1%	20.8 – 31.9	California
73	Franklin County	26.1%	20.5 – 32.4	Massachusetts
74	Maui County	26.2%	21.8 – 30.8	Hawaii
75	Custer County	26.3%	19.4 – 34.4	Colorado
76	Los Angeles County	26.4%	23.7 – 29.4	California
77	Grafton County	26.5%	21.9 – 31.6	New Hampshire
78	Sussex County	26.5%	20.8 – 32.3	New Jersey
79	Washington County	26.6%	19.8 – 34.1	Colorado
80	Rio Blanco County	26.7%	19.9 – 34.7	Colorado
81	Cumberland County	26.7%	23.2 – 30.4	Maine
82	Santa Cruz County	26.8%	21.2 – 33.0	California
83	Forsyth County	26.8%	21.3 – 32.8	Georgia
84	Barnstable County	26.8%	21.6 – 32.2	Massachusetts
85	Deschutes County	26.8%	21.9 – 32.2	Oregon
86	Delta County	26.9%	20.8 – 33.7	Colorado
87	Nantucket County	26.9%	20.1 – 34.8	Massachusetts
88	Missoula County	26.9%	23.0 – 30.9	Montana
89	Dolores County	27.1%	20.2 – 34.5	Colorado
90	Hennepin County	27.1%	24.6 – 29.7	Minnesota
91	Washington County	27.1%	22.7 – 31.6	Vermont
92	Placer County	27.2%	21.8 – 33.5	California
93	Archuleta County	27.2%	20.3 – 35.1	Colorado
94	Palm Beach County	27.3%	22.7 – 32.4	Florida
95	Douglas County	27.3%	21.0 – 34.3	Nevada
96	Putnam County	27.3%	22.3 – 34.4	New York
97	Loudoun County	27.3%	22.6 – 32.4	Virginia
98	Whatcom County	27.3%	23.6 – 31.3	Washington
99	El Dorado County	27.4%	21.4 – 34.3	California
100	Indian River County	27.5%	22.7 – 32.6	Florida

Highest Obesity Rates — Bottom 100 CountiesCounties with the highest reported obesity prevalence.

#	County	Rate	95% CI	State
1	Perry County	54.0%	45.5 – 62.7	Alabama
2	Greene County	53.4%	44.5 – 61.9	Alabama
3	Humphreys County	53.0%	43.9 – 61.4	Mississippi
4	Wilcox County	51.9%	42.8 – 60.7	Alabama
5	Jefferson County	51.7%	42.4 – 60.6	Mississippi
6	East Carroll Parish	51.7%	42.4 – 60.6	Louisiana
7	Holmes County	51.5%	43.1 – 59.8	Mississippi
8	Lowndes County	51.3%	41.5 – 59.9	Alabama
9	Quitman County	51.1%	41.7 – 60.1	Mississippi
10	Bullock County	51.0%	42.2 – 60.1	Alabama
11	Tunica County	50.8%	41.8 – 60.3	Mississippi
12	Sharkey County	50.5%	45.4 – 55.8	Mississippi
13	Claiborne County	50.5%	41.4 – 59.6	Mississippi
14	Todd County	50.2%	43.6 – 57.1	South Dakota
15	Rolette County	50.2%	42.5 – 57.7	North Dakota
16	Yazoo County	50.2%	41.8 – 58.5	Mississippi
17	Madison Parish	50.1%	41.0 – 59.3	Louisiana
18	Sumter County	50.0%	41.1 – 58.7	Alabama
19	Sioux County	49.7%	40.7 – 58.7	North Dakota
20	Tensas Parish	49.2%	40.2 – 58.5	Louisiana
21	Macon County	49.1%	40.1 – 58.0	Alabama
22	Buffalo County	49.0%	40.6 – 57.1	South Dakota
23	Sunflower County	48.9%	40.4 – 56.8	Mississippi
24	Claiborne Parish	48.9%	40.2 – 58.8	Louisiana
25	Phillips County	48.6%	40.9 – 56.4	Arkansas
26	Zavala County	48.2%	43.7 – 52.5	Texas
27	Robeson County	48.1%	42.7 – 53.6	North Carolina
28	Pickens County	48.0%	39.7 – 56.3	Alabama
29	Clay County	47.9%	40.3 – 55.4	Mississippi
30	St. Francis County	47.9%	40.2 – 56.6	Arkansas
31	Hale County	47.8%	39.2 – 56.4	Alabama
32	Dimmit County	47.7%	38.0 – 57.2	Texas
33	Oglala Lakota County	47.7%	41.7 – 54.3	South Dakota
34	Mississippi County	47.7%	39.9 – 55.7	Missouri
35	Wilkinson County	47.7%	38.6 – 56.6	Mississippi
36	Ziebach County	47.6%	39.9 – 55.2	South Dakota
37	Bienville Parish	47.6%	39.2 – 56.2	Louisiana
38	Chicot County	47.4%	39.0 – 55.7	Arkansas
39	Lake County	47.3%	38.3 – 56.8	Tennessee
40	Issaquena County	47.3%	42.9 – 51.8	Mississippi
41	Cass County	47.3%	39.1 – 55.6	Indiana
42	Lauderdale County	47.2%	38.4 – 56.0	Tennessee
43	Lafourche Parish	47.2%	40.3 – 54.3	Louisiana
44	Sequoyah County	47.1%	39.6 – 54.9	Oklahoma
45	Coahoma County	47.1%	39.2 – 55.5	Mississippi
46	Barbour County	47.1%	38.8 – 55.4	Alabama
47	Lee County	47.0%	38.0 – 56.0	Arkansas
48	Kusilvak Census Area	47.0%	38.3 – 56.4	Alaska
49	Allendale County	46.9%	38.4 – 55.7	South Carolina
50	McMinn County	46.8%	38.9 – 54.5	Tennessee
51	Bolivar County	46.8%	39.5 – 54.7	Mississippi
52	Crittenden County	46.8%	38.9 – 54.8	Arkansas
53	Conecuh County	46.8%	38.1 – 55.5	Alabama
54	Mississippi County	46.7%	39.2 – 54.3	Arkansas
55	Petersburg city	46.6%	38.7 – 54.9	Virginia
56	Haywood County	46.6%	37.5 – 55.6	Tennessee
57	Desha County	46.6%	38.4 – 55.1	Arkansas
58	Pike County	46.5%	38.6 – 54.3	Mississippi
59	Noxubee County	46.5%	37.7 – 55.0	Mississippi
60	Randolph County	46.5%	37.3 – 55.3	Georgia
61	Dallas County	46.5%	38.7 – 54.6	Alabama
62	Osage County	46.4%	39.1 – 53.9	Oklahoma
63	Dunklin County	46.4%	39.1 – 53.9	Missouri
64	Panola County	46.4%	38.1 – 54.1	Mississippi
65	Thurston County	46.3%	39.6 – 53.2	Nebraska
66	Lincoln Parish	46.3%	38.8 – 53.9	Louisiana
67	Lafayette County	46.3%	37.5 – 55.5	Arkansas
68	Jefferson County	46.3%	40.5 – 52.5	Arkansas
69	Montgomery County	46.3%	40.4 – 52.6	Alabama
70	Randolph County	46.2%	38.4 – 54.1	West Virginia
71	Boone County	46.2%	38.2 – 54.5	West Virginia
72	Mellette County	46.2%	38.2 – 54.8	South Dakota
73	McDowell County	46.1%	37.6 – 54.5	West Virginia
74	Adair County	46.1%	37.9 – 53.9	Oklahoma
75	Lawrence County	46.1%	37.7 – 54.4	Mississippi
76	Grenada County	46.1%	37.9 – 54.6	Mississippi
77	Winn Parish	46.0%	37.5 – 55.1	Louisiana
78	Hopewell city	45.9%	36.9 – 55.3	Virginia
79	Concordia Parish	45.9%	38.4 – 56.8	Louisiana
80	Forest County	45.8%	41.9 – 52.2	Wisconsin
81	Lunenburg County	45.8%	37.6 – 54.0	Virginia
82	Starr County	45.8%	37.1 – 54.5	Texas
83	Jefferson Davis County	45.8%	37.6 – 54.4	Mississippi
84	Hempstead County	45.8%	37.6 – 53.5	Arkansas
85	Cabell County	45.7%	39.4 – 51.7	West Virginia
86	Sussex County	45.7%	37.3 – 54.0	Virginia
87	Jim Hogg County	45.7%	40.9 – 50.8	Texas
88	Ashtabula County	45.7%	38.7 – 52.7	Ohio
89	Pulaski County	45.7%	36.4 – 55.2	Illinois
90	Fairfield County	45.6%	37.2 – 54.1	South Carolina
91	Darlington County	45.6%	39.0 – 52.4	South Carolina
92	Okfuskee County	45.6%	37.1 – 54.5	Oklahoma
93	Richardson County	45.6%	39.2 – 52.3	Nebraska
94	Kemper County	45.6%	36.7 – 54.6	Mississippi
95	Washington Parish	45.6%	38.1 – 53.4	Louisiana
96	Choctaw County	45.5%	36.8 – 54.2	Oklahoma
97	Scotland County	45.5%	36.9 – 54.0	North Carolina
98	Menominee County	45.4%	37.1 – 53.9	Wisconsin
99	Seminole County	45.4%	37.5 – 53.4	Oklahoma
100	Amite County	45.4%	37.2 – 53.9	Mississippi

What this ranking suggests

Obesity rankings are one of the most widely cited public-health surfaces — and one of the easiest to misread. Treat the value as a marker for an environment (food access, walkability, income), not a verdict on residents. The food-insecurity and physical-inactivity rankings on this site sit upstream of obesity outcomes.

Methodology notes & limitations

Estimates are statistical model outputs, not direct measurements. Small counties have wider confidence intervals; treat narrow rank differences in those rows as within-noise. Counties where the underlying population is too small to support modeling are suppressed entirely (about 1% of US counties). All measures are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population. The PLACES dataset uses BRFSS self-reported data — self-report introduces known direction-of-bias in some measures (BMI is under-reported; binge drinking is under-reported), but the bias is roughly uniform across counties so ranking comparability is preserved. See the methodology page for full data-pipeline documentation.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished May 15, 2026Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data source: CDC PLACES 2023 release. Measure ID: OBESITY.

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