U.S. rural obesity rates exceeded urban obesity rates from 2019 to 2024

Adult obesity rates vary across U.S. geographic regions and rural/urban areas, suggesting the exposure to obesity-related diseases can differ from one location to the next. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is classified for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. The U.S. obesity rate slightly fell from March 2022 (43.3 percent) to March 2024 (43.1 percent). Between those same time periods, the obesity rates increased more in rural areas (47.8 to 48.3 percent) than in urban areas (42.4 to 42.1 percent). More than 80 percent of the U.S. adult population lives in urban areas, according to the 2020 Census, so the overall adult obesity rate often reflects the urban rate more closely than the rural rate. According to the National Institutes of Health, adults with obesity are more likely to develop heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and other long-term health conditions. In addition to diminishing quality of life and life expectancy, these diseases increase medical costs and decrease labor force productivity, reducing economic growth potential for communities. This chart appears in the USDA, Economic Research Service Amber Waves article U.S. Obesity Rate Changes Differ for Rural and Urban Areas, as Well as Across Regions, published August 2025.