Many factors can affect our physical and mental health, and it’s no coincidence that certain places suffer from more medical issues than others.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought our health into sharper focus over the last couple of years, but which US states are looking out for their physical and mental wellbeing the most?

To find out, we’ve analyzed each state to find out which have the highest levels of obesity, which suffer the most from mental health conditions, and which are spending the most time searching for advice on health issues, as well as those seeking out alternative therapies for their ailments.

If you’re looking for a simpler and more affordable way to get medication yourself, why not consider purchasing medication online from just $49 a month at NiceRx.

States with the highest obesity rates

States with the highest obesity rates | States with the lowest obesity rates

The state with the highest overall rate of obesity is Mississippi, where just under two-fifths of people are deemed to be obese. On top of this, the Magnolia State is home to the highest percentage of adults with high blood pressure, and the second-highest rate of adults with type-2 diabetes, both of which are linked to obesity.

Not too far behind Mississippi, the obesity rate in West Virginia stands at 39.1%. As well as these people who are clinically obese, the combined number of people who are either obese or overweight is much larger, at 70.9%, with men aged 45-54 those most likely to fall into this category.

With an obesity rate of just 0.1% lower than in West Virginia, Alabama is the state with the third-highest obesity rate, at 39.0%. This is up from 36.1% the previous year, and from 22.6% twenty years ago.

On the other hand, Colorado is the state with the lowest obesity rate, at 24.2%. While this is the lowest in the country, the rate of obesity is on the up in Colorado, just like it is nationwide. The obesity rate here stood at just 11% in 1995 but has increased by more than double since then.

In Massachusetts, the obesity rate is 24.4%, the second-lowest in the country. Massachusetts generally ranks amongst the healthiest states in the country and has the most doctors per 100,000 residents, as well as a relatively low prevalence of binge drinking.

The island state of Hawaii has the third-lowest obesity rate in the country, at 24.5%. It’s perhaps no coincidence that Hawaii is also the third-wealthiest state, with those states with higher obesity rates generally tending to be those with lower incomes.

Rank
State
Obesity
prevalence
Rank
State
Obesity
prevalence

States with the highest levels of mental health illness

States with the highest levels of mental health illness | States with the lowest levels of mental health illness

Mental health is something that many people struggle with, and this has only been exacerbated by the effects of the pandemic. Utah is the state where people suffer from mental health illnesses the most, with just under 30% of adults in the last year suffering from some form of problem.

The state with the second-highest prevalence of mental health is Oregon, with 27.33%. Close to 4.6% of people in Oregon suffer from serious mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

As well as being the state with the second-highest rate of obesity, West Virginia is also unfortunately the state with the third-highest prevalence when it comes to mental health illness, at 26.05%.

However, the state where mental health levels are at their lowest is the Sunshine State, Florida, despite being one of the most populated states in the country. Florida is a popular place for those looking to retire for a more carefree and less stressful life in the sun.

Another southern state comes just behind Florida, with Georgia having a mental illness prevalence of 17.55%. A recent report found that Georgia’s access to mental health services has improved in recent years.

Maryland is the state with the third-lowest prevalence of mental health issues in the country, at 17.8%. It also recently introduced an innovative new program to expand its crisis call center and allow trained mental health counselors to periodically check in on people in need of support, rather than waiting for them to call when in crisis.

Rank
State
Mental illness
prevalence
Rank
State
Mental illness
prevalence

The most health-conscious states

1. Georgia

235,227

searches per 100,000 people

While you certainly shouldn’t be using it to source genuine medical advice, the internet is the first port of call for many people looking to self-diagnose their medical troubles.

Having looked at over 300 medical-related search terms, it was Georgians that spend the most time Googling their health woes, with 235,227 health-related searches per 100,000 people, more than any other state.

2. Massachusetts

235,176

searches per 100,000 people

Not too far behind is Massachusetts, with 235,176 health-related searches per 100,000 people. Interestingly, despite both Massachusetts and Georgia residents clearly spending the most time searching for health info, they were amongst the healthiest states when it came to obesity and mental health respectively.

3. New York

228,892

searches per 100,000 people

Completing the top three, New Yorkers are the third-most health-conscious, with 228,892 searches per 100,000 for various medical conditions. New York is one of the most populated states in the country, as home to the country’s biggest city, New York City.

Rank
State
Annual searches
Population
Searches per 100,000 people

Show more +

The states embracing alternative therapies

1. California

894,430

searches per 100,000 people

Many Americans are also exploring alternative therapies for treatment such as acupuncture, yoga, and chiropractic treatment. The state that is the most interested in these alternative treatments is California, with just under 35,000 searches per 100,000 people.

2. Hawaii

34,431

searches per 100,000 people

Not far behind the Golden State when it comes to alternative therapies is Hawaii, with 34,431 searches per 100,000 people. The state also has its own form of traditional Hawaiian medicine, based on holistic healing.

3. Nevada

32,781

searches per 100,000 people

Completing the top three when it comes to searches for alternative therapies is Nevada, with 32,781 searches per 100,000 people. With California taking the top spot and Colorado and Washington in fourth and fifth, it seems that alternative remedies are much more popular on the West Coast!

Rank
State
Annual searches
Population
Searches per 100,000 people

Show more +

Methodology

Obesity

Sourced from the CDC’s adult obesity prevalence maps. Obesity here refers to a BMI of 30.0 or higher.

Mental health

The percentage of adults who have suffered any mental illness in the past year (2019-20) according to SAMHSA’s 2019-2020 National Survey On Drug Use And Health. Any mental illness (AMI) is defined as having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder, other than a developmental or substance use disorder, as assessed by the Mental Health Surveillance Study (MHSS) Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—Fourth Edition.

Health searches

We collected a list of around 300 different medical conditions and diseases and found the total number of Google searches for each of these terms in the last twelve months according to Googler Ads Keyword Planner. We then calculated the total searches per 100,000 people, using population data from the latest US Census.

Alternative therapies searches

We collected a list of around 100 different alternative therapies and found the total number of Google searches for each of these terms in the last twelve months according to Googler Ads Keyword Planner. We then calculated the total searches per 100,000 people, using population data from the latest US Census.

Brought to you by

NiceRx provides access to FDA-approved medications, including Vyvanse, Vraylar, Viibryd, Latuda, Trintellix and Intuniv.