New York ranks 37th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in WalletHub's 2026 comparison of overweight and obesity, placing it outside the report's 20 highest-ranked states.
The report released Tuesday gives New York an overall score of 56.43. A No. 1 ranking represents the most overweight and obese state under the company's scoring system.
New York's results and the national rankings
New York ranks 39th in obesity and overweight prevalence, 36th in health consequences and 25th in food and fitness. Those are relative rankings within the report's three categories, rather than the percentage of New Yorkers who have obesity.
West Virginia ranks first overall, followed by Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Alabama. Tennessee, Kentucky, Maine, Delaware and Texas round out the top 10.
The remaining states in the top 20 are Oklahoma, Georgia, Kansas, South Carolina, Ohio, North Dakota, Michigan, Indiana, North Carolina and Nebraska. Colorado ranks last overall in the comparison, with Utah and Massachusetts immediately ahead of it.
The report says 42% of West Virginia adults have obesity and nearly 32% are overweight without obesity. Colorado has the lowest adult obesity rate; the release puts the difference between the two states at about 1.7 times.
WalletHub also reports that the District of Columbia has the lowest share of physically inactive adults, compared with Mississippi's highest share. Vermont has the lowest percentage of adults with diabetes, while West Virginia has the highest. Colorado has the lowest adult high blood pressure rate, with Mississippi highest.
What the comparison measures
WalletHub compared 31 measures covering prevalence, health consequences and food and fitness conditions. Prevalence accounts for 60 of the 100 possible points, health consequences for 25 and food and fitness for 15.
The measures include adult and youth weight classifications, physical inactivity, access to healthier food retailers, school nutrition and activity policies, sugary beverage consumption, and obesity-related health care costs. Some measures use projections for 2030. Data were collected as of Oct. 6 from federal agencies and other research organizations.
Analyst Chip Lupo said food access, school nutrition policies and opportunities for physical activity can affect the conditions residents face. The comparison evaluates those conditions alongside weight and health measures, so its overall ranking is broader than an adult obesity-rate table.
The release cites annual obesity-related U.S. health care costs of $173 billion. WalletHub timed the report to November's National Diabetes Awareness Month.
Experts emphasize affordable habits and medical guidance
Andrew Burnstine, an associate professor at Lynn University, recommended planning meals, shopping with a list, comparing unit prices and considering store brands. Frozen produce, beans and lentils can help keep meals affordable and reduce waste, he said.
Scott Thorne, an instructor at Southeast Missouri State University, also emphasized vegetables, beans and grains as lower-cost meal components. He urged people to consult a doctor before starting a weight-loss plan rather than relying on social media advice.
Burnstine cautioned against rapid weight-loss attempts and treating a setback as a reason to abandon a longer-term plan. He recommended paying attention to calories in drinks, checking nutrition labels and planning how to maintain changes.
He also encouraged people to keep up with blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checks and discuss treatment options with their health care provider. CDC guidance says gradual loss of about 1 to 2 pounds a week is more likely to be maintained and that even modest weight loss can improve those health measures.
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