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10. Rockford, Illinois (tie)
- Obesity rate: 33.0%
- Illinois boasts the fourth-most big companies in the U.S., including Boeing, Abbott Labs, Caterpillar and Kraft Foods. Job growth, however, is projected to be worst in the country over the next five years, according to Moody’s Analytics. The state’s finances are also in shambles: in 2013, Moody’s downgraded Illinois’ credit rating to A3—lowest in the country among the states—and maintained its negative outlook. Moody’s chided the Illinois General Assembly for not addressing the state’s “severe pension liabilities.”
Photo credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images
10. Green Bay, Wisconsin (tie)
- Obesity rate: 33.0%
- Wisconsin’s economy is driven by manufacturing, agriculture and healthcare. The state is also the nation’s leading producer of cheese. The Badger State adopted the slogan of “Open for Business” in 2011, erecting signs along the state border. Wisconsin’s forecasted job picture has improved dramatically since then moving from No. 49 to No. 21 this year.
Photo credit: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis
8. Jackson, Mississippi (tie)
- Obesity rate: 33.8%
- Mississippi finishes last for the first time due to bottom five rankings in four of our six main categories, including labor supply, economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life. The state ranks in the bottom three on both college and high school attainment rates. Another issue: in addition to having the lowest median household income at $37,432, Mississippi is burdened with the highest poverty rate in the U.S. A couple of positives: labor costs are 5.5% below the national average and the incentive climate is one of the best in the nation.
Photo credit: Rusty Russell/Getty Images
8. Clarksville, Tennessee-Kentucky (tie)
- Obesity rate: 33.8%
- Kentucky is best known for its horse racing, bourbon distilleries, automobile manufacturing, tobacco and college basketball. Horse racing is a $4 billion industry in the state and the Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses generates more than $400 million annually in economic impact for Kentucky. The state has 460 motor vehicle-related facilities that employ 82,000 workers. Kentucky produces the third most cars of any state in the U.S.
Photo credit: AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari
7. Toledo, Ohio
- Obesity rate: 34.2%
- Manufacturing and financial services account for the largest sectors of Ohio’s $565 billion gross state product. The state is home to 45 of the 1,000 largest public and private companies in the U.S.—sixth most of any state. Some Ohio-based companies include Procter & Gamble, Kroger and Macy’s. Like its Rust Belt neighbors, net migration out of the state continues to plague Ohio.
Photo credit: AP Photo/Charleston Daily Mail, Craig Cunningham
6. Charleston, West Virginia
- Obesity rate: 34.6%
- West Virginia remains mired in the bottom five, but its corporate net income tax rate dropped from 9% to 6.5% between 2007 and 2014. Population growth has been anemic—only Vermont is worse—and the state’s college attainment rate is the lowest in the country, with only 18.9% of its population over the age of 25 having received a post-secondary degree. West Virginia is the second biggest coal-producing state in the U.S. after Wyoming.
Photo credit: AP Photo/Danny Johnston, File
5. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, Arkansas
- Obesity rate: 35.1%
- An economic magnet for Arkansas, Wal-Mart—the $480 billion-in-sales retail behemoth based out of Bentonville— is invaluable to the state as companies set up shop to remain close to its headquarters. Bentonville is the home to two of Sam Walton’s children, Jim and Rob, who are worth $72 billion combined. At a median price of $115,300, Arkansas’ home prices are among the lowest in the country (only Michigan is cheaper). Another selling point for companies: energy costs are 24% below the national average.
Photo credit: Gordon King/AP
4. Yakima, Washington
- Obesity rate: 35.7%
- A cradle for innovation, Washington is the birthplace for a spectrum of iconic companies, including Microsoft, Amazon.com, Nordstrom, Starbucks, Boeing and Costco. Venture capitalists are always searching for the next great Washington company, pouring $2.3 billion of VC money—fifth most in the U.S.—into the state between 2011 and 2013. Though Washington does not collect personal or corporate income taxes, the business and occupation tax (B & O) affects most businesses.
Photo credit: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
3. Hagerstown-Martinsburg, Maryland-West Virginia
- Obesity rate: 36.7%
- West Virginia remains mired in the bottom five, but its corporate net income tax rate dropped from 9% to 6.5% between 2007 and 2014. Population growth has been anemic—only Vermont is worse—and the state’s college attainment rate is the lowest in the country, with only 18.9% of its population over the age of 25 having received a post-secondary degree. West Virginia is the second biggest coal-producing state in the U.S. after Wyoming.
Photo credit: The Washington Post/The Washington Post/Getty Images
2. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
- Obesity rate: 38.3%
- The $1.5 trillion Texas economy is the second biggest in the U.S., behind only California. Texas ranks first for both current economic climate and growth prospects. There are 118 of the 1,000 largest public and private companies in the U.S. based in Texas, including giants like AT&T, ExxonMobil and Dell. The Texas economy is expected to expand 4.1% annually over the next five years, which is second best in the nation. One of the only things holding Texas back is the education rate among its labor supply. Only 82% of adults have a high school degree, which is second lowest among the states.
Photo credit: AP Photo/Howie McCormick, The Herald-Dispatch, File
1. Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio
- Obesity rate: 39.5%
- West Virginia remains mired in the bottom five, but its corporate net income tax rate dropped from 9% to 6.5% between 2007 and 2014. Population growth has been anemic—only Vermont is worse—and the state’s college attainment rate is the lowest in the country, with only 18.9% of its population over the age of 25 having received a post-secondary degree. West Virginia is the second biggest coal-producing state in the U.S. after Wyoming.
America's Fattest Cities
Fat people
fukking disgrace.
What did we do to you?
