There are only 10 states in the U.S. that can say less than one-quarter of their residents are obese. That may not be a positive commentary on the state of the waistline in America, 2015. But there may be hope: Hawaiians are apparently doing something worth modeling about obesity.
That’s one of the conclusions that could be drawn from the latest obesity ranking by Gallup, with its partner Healthways. Gallup has been cranking out a ranking of states by the percentage of their citizens who self-report as obese since 2008.
This year’s list is based upon information gathered in 2014.
Overall, the news on American obesity is not good. Since 2008, the national average of obese Americans has gradually risen, until it reached this year’s peak of 27.7 percent.
The national number stood at 25.5 percent in 2008, rose to 26.6 percent by 2010, then actually fell by a few points in 2011 and 2012 before spiking to its current level.
Without further undo ado, here’s this year’s Top 10 Least Obese States:
Connecticut
Obesity rate: 24.9 percent
Minnesota
Obesity rate: 24.8 percent
Minnesotans went from 22 percent to 24.8 percent — the biggest dip within the Top 10.
New York
Obesity rate: 24.7 percent
South Dakota
Obesity rate: 24.6 percent
Idaho
Obesity rate: 24.2 percent
Nevada and New Mexico fell completely out of the Top 10, making room for snowbelt states Idaho and South Dakota. But overall, everyone but Hawaii in the top 10 either reported a higher index or stayed about the same.
Massachusetts
Obesity rate: 24 percent