November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and a new ranking shows why that matters in Kentucky.
The personal-finance company WalletHub released its 2026 report on the Most Overweight and Obese States in America, and Kentucky ranks near the top. The Bluegrass State ranks 7th overall.
It’s Not Just Kentucky
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than seven in 10 American adults ages 20 and older are overweight or obese. The numbers are lower for kids and teens, but childhood obesity has climbed sharply over the past several decades.
Obesity is tied to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, and it’s expensive, too. It costs the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $173 billion a year, and the weight-loss and diet industry has become a $90 billion business.
To build its latest report, WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 measures, including adult and childhood obesity rates, physical inactivity, diet, and obesity-related health costs.
Here’s How Kentucky Stacks Up
Kentucky ranks 7th overall. Here’s where it falls on the individual measures, with 1st being the worst:
2nd – Percentage of adults with Type 2 diabetes6th – Percentage of physically inactive adults7th – Percentage of adults with hypertension8th – Percentage of obese children10th – Percentage of obese adults15th – Percentage of overweight children16th – Percentage of adults eating fewer than one serving of fruits and vegetables per day24th – Percentage of adults with high cholesterol25th – Obesity-related death rate
The one that jumps out is Type 2 diabetes. Only one state ranks higher for the percentage of adults with Type 2 diabetes. Kentucky also ranks 6th for physical inactivity, so a lack of regular exercise is clearly part of the picture.
It starts early, too. Kentucky is 8th for childhood obesity and 15th for overweight children.
Which States Rank Worst?
According to WalletHub’s 2026 rankings, the five most overweight and obese states are:
West Virginia
Mississippi
Arkansas
Louisiana
Alabama
Source: WalletHub
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo says personal choices are only part of the story.
“While losing weight largely hinges on whether an individual chooses to eat healthy foods, limit their calorie intake, and exercise consistently, certain states make shedding the pounds easier than others,” Lupo explains.
He points to school lunches, access to fresh food, and places to exercise as things states can influence.
None of this will surprise anyone who has followed Kentucky’s health rankings over the years. But November is a good excuse to talk about it, and to ask what would make it easier for your neighbors and their kids to eat well and stay active. That conversation shouldn’t end when the month does.
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