New Data from the CDC Reveals Widespread Obesity Across the U.S. — What It Means for Communities
- Aaron Jones
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The CDC recently released its 2023 Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps, offering a fresh and sobering view of obesity across the United States. These maps — based on self-reported height and weight data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) — show the proportion of adults whose body-mass index (BMI) is 30 or greater. CDC+1
📊 Key Findings Nationwide
In 2023, every U.S. state and territory had an adult obesity prevalence higher than 20% — meaning more than 1 in 5 adults are living with obesity. CDC
Regions with the highest prevalence: the Midwest (≈ 36.0%) and the South (≈ 34.7%). The West and Northeast were lower but still significant (≈ 29.1% and ≈ 28.6%, respectively). CDC
At the state level:
These numbers make clear: obesity is not localized — it's a national concern. Even in states often perceived as “healthier,” the share of adults with obesity remains substantial.
Inequality in Health: Who Is More Affected?
The 2023 maps also highlight disparities — obesity doesn’t affect every community equally.
This underscores that obesity is tied not just to individual behavior — but also to systemic factors: access to healthy foods, safe places to exercise, health education, socioeconomic status, and broader social determinants of health.
Why This Matters — Especially for Communities Like Mississippi
For states or communities where obesity rates are especially high, such as Mississippi, the new CDC data carries urgent implications.
Increased burden of chronic disease. Obesity is a risk factor for many long-term health conditions — including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers. The higher the obesity rate in a community, the greater the burden on healthcare systems and the risk for poorer quality of life. CDC+1
Need for early prevention and intervention. These data reinforce why it’s important to invest in prevention: access to healthy foods, safe recreational spaces, affordable and evidence-based care.
Health equity matters. Disparities by race, ethnicity, education, and geography mean that some communities — often underserved — bear a disproportionately heavy weight of this epidemic. Addressing obesity must therefore involve structural changes, not just individual-level solutions.
What Can Be Done — Paths Forward for Healthier Communities
The CDC’s maps don’t just highlight a problem — they also help guide where efforts are needed most. Based on this data, here are some ways communities, policymakers, and public health advocates might respond:
Expand access to healthy foods — fresh produce, affordable groceries, community gardens, and nutrition education in areas with high obesity prevalence.
Improve opportunities for physical activity — safe parks, sidewalks, community centers, recreational programming, and exercise support for all ages.
Support evidence-based care and obesity treatment — including medical, nutritional, and behavioral support services, especially in underserved or rural areas.
Address social determinants of health — poverty, education, food deserts, and access disparities — which often underlie obesity risk.
Promote community awareness and health education — helping individuals understand risks, healthy lifestyle choices, and available resources.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
The 2023 Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps are more than just numbers — they provide a revealing snapshot of a national health challenge.
If more than one in five adults in every state lives with obesity, and in some states it's nearly two in five — it’s clear we’re facing a widespread public health crisis that affects communities, families, and individuals across demographics.
But these maps also offer hope — by shining a spotlight on the areas with greatest need, they provide a roadmap for targeted, equitable interventions.
If your community is listed among those hardest hit, now is the time to come together: push for access, support prevention programs, and advocate for resources. Because collective health depends on collective action.
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