Ohio has claimed top 15 honors in a new report — but it's an accolade we may not want.
According to a study from WalletHub, Ohio is America's 12th fattest state.
"According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than seven in 10 U.S. adults aged 20 and older are either overweight or obese. Rates are lower for children and adolescents but have risen drastically in the past few decades," says WalletHub, adding that a report from the Physical Activity Council found that 74.3 million Americans 6 and older were totally inactive in 2020, contributing to the obesity issue.
To rank how overweight each state is, WalletHub looked at 31 metrics including the amount of overweight adults, teenagers and children; the number of adults with health issues like high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes; and fast-food restaurants per capita.
While Ohio ranked 12th overall, sandwiched between Texas at 11 and Georgia at 13, specific metrics stood out, for example, Ohio took home the No. 2 spot for the highest percentage of overweight children. It was also ranked No. 12 for the percent of adults eating less than one serving of fruit or vegetables a day.
Things are much worse in neighboring Kentucky, however, which ranked the fourth most obese state on the list.
In addition to its No. 4 title, Kentucky also has the highest percent of obese children, highest percent of physically inactive adults and is in the top 5 for the highest percentage of adults with high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
WalletHub also called out each state's favorite comfort food. In Ohio, we turn to buckeyes (at 362 calories per serving), while in Kentucky they opt to seek solace in hot browns (at 951 calories per serving).
To see the full results and methodology, visit wallethub.com.
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