- West Virginia is the state where people are most under the risk of diabetes, with 41.2% of residents classified as obese and nearly one in three physically inactive.
- Oklahoma has the highest fast food consumption rate in the U.S., with 7 out of 10 people eating it regularly.
- Kentuckians consume more added sugar than residents in any other state, averaging over 21 grams per day.
A recent CDC report found nearly 16% of U.S. adults have diabetes, highlighting growing health concerns that make our state-level risk ranking timely and crucial. Ben’s Natural Health analyzed U.S. states using a Diabetes Risk Index based on five lifestyle factors linked to Type 2 diabetes: obesity rate, physical inactivity, added sugar consumption, soda consumption, and fast food consumption rate. Publicly available CDC datasets and national surveys provided the data. Missing values were imputed using regional medians. All variables were normalized using min-max scaling, with no inversions, and then weighted to form a composite score. States were ranked in descending order by their risk index, with higher values indicating greater diabetes vulnerability per 100,000 residents.
| States | Obesity Rate | Added Sugar Consumption | Soda Consumption | Physical Inactivity Rate | Fast Food Cunsumption Rate | Diabetes Risk Score |
| West Virginia | 41.20% | 19.1 ± 0.9 | 22.50% | 32% | 65.17 | 88.07 |
| Mississippi | 40.10% | 20.0 ± 0.9 | 17.10% | 33% | 68.03 | 85.46 |
| Arkansas | 40.00% | 19.3 ± 0.6 | 15.00% | 33% | 44.99 | 77.31 |
| Oklahoma | 38.70% | 19.8 ± 0.9 | 11.80% | 31% | 69.76 | 75.05 |
| Kentucky | N/A | 21.2 ± 0.6 | 18.50% | N/A | 65.6 | 72.10 |
| Alabama | 39.20% | 18.7 ± 0.5 | N/A | 29% | 69.01 | 71.64 |
| Louisiana | 39.90% | 17.6 ± 0.6 | 13.50% | 30% | 54.81 | 70.42 |
| Tennessee | 37.60% | 18.5 ± 0.3 | 14.00% | 26% | 65.62 | 64.93 |
| Indiana | 37.80% | 18.1 ± 0.4 | 10.30% | 24% | 63.57 | 59.16 |
| South Carolina | 36.00% | 18.4 ± 0.7 | 12.40% | 26% | 56.4 | 58.89 |
For the detailed methodology and full research, please follow this link.
West Virginia has the highest diabetes risk score at 88.07. More than 4 in 10 residents are obese (41.2%), and about 1 in 3 don’t get enough physical activity. This combination puts the state ahead of every other in terms of diabetes vulnerability.
Mississippi follows with a risk score of 85.46, just behind West Virginia. Here, 40.1% of residents are obese, and 33% are inactive. On top of that, 68% eat fast food regularly, a higher rate than West Virginia, adding to the state’s elevated risk profile.
Arkansas is third with a score of 77.31. It shares a similar 40% obesity rate with Mississippi but has slightly better numbers on soda and fast food use. Still, one in three adults is inactive, keeping its overall risk high.
Oklahoma comes in fourth with a score of 75.05. It has the highest fast food consumption rate in the country at 69.76%. Its obesity rate at 38.7%, is lower than Arkansas’s, but the high fast food reliance keeps it firmly in the top five.
Kentucky scores 72.1 and takes the fifth spot as the state where people are under the risk of diabetes. Residents here consume the most added sugar on average (21.2 grams per day). Also, 2 out of 3 residents or about 65.6% eat fast food regularly, keeping its risk score in the top five.
Alabama comes in sixth, with a score of 71.64 as one of the most diabetes-prone states. The state records a 39.2% obesity rate, just under West Virginia. Its fast food habits are almost as high as Oklahoma’s, with just under 7 in 10 residents eating it regularly, more than Kentucky or Arkansas.
In seventh, Louisiana lands at 70.42, with similar obesity and inactivity figures as Alabama. But it shows lower soda and sugar intake, which explains its slightly lower position compared to others with nearly identical physical stats.
Tennessee earns a risk score of 64.93. Here about 2 in 3 residents (66%) eat fast food regularly, and 37.6% are obese. While soda and sugar intake is a bit lower than in higher-ranked states, the food and exercise numbers remain a concern.
Indiana comes in ninth, with a score of 59.16. Close to 4 in 10 adults or 37.8% are obese, and 63.6% residents eat fast food often. But Indianians drink the least soda of any top-10 state, with only 1 in 10 residents reporting regular consumption.
South Carolina rounds out the top 10 states where people are most under the risk of diabetes, scoring 58.89. Here, 36% of the residents are obese and just over half of residents (56.4%) eat fast food frequently, the lowest in the top group.
A spokesperson from Ben’s Natural Health commented on the study: “When 2 out of 3 people in a state are eating fast food regularly, and nearly half are obese or inactive, the risk of diabetes doesn’t just creep up, it accelerates. This ranking highlights how layered the problem is: it’s not just one bad habit, but a mix of diet and lifestyle choices piling up. States where unhealthy patterns are more common are seeing much higher risk, and it shows in the numbers.”
