Recent declines in obesity rates don't extend to Kentucky
By Josh James, Associated Press
October 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM EDT
For the first time in more than a decade, the number of states with rates of obesity of 35% or more has dropped, an encouraging sign that America’s epidemic of excess weight might be improving. But the same can't be said for Kentucky and more than a dozen other states.
In 2023, nearly a fourth of all states had adult obesity rates at or above 35%. That's since dropped to 19 states, mostly concentrated in the south and midwest. But Kentucky, which has long struggled to improve health stats, remains above that threshold at just over 37%.
Even the states that improved their rates could be in danger of seeing that progress slip, with federal staff and programs that address chronic disease being cut.
A CDC report last year that found that obesity affected about 40% of the population overall.
Before 2013, no state had an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%. By 2019, however, 12 states had rates that high — and the number continued to climb.
Obesity is a chronic disease linked to a host of serious health problems including diabetes, stroke, cancer, and heart disease.
Even the states that improved their rates could be in danger of seeing that progress slip, with federal staff and programs that address chronic disease being cut.
A CDC report last year that found that obesity affected about 40% of the population overall.
Before 2013, no state had an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%. By 2019, however, 12 states had rates that high — and the number continued to climb.
Obesity is a chronic disease linked to a host of serious health problems including diabetes, stroke, cancer, and heart disease.