How much fast food does your state have to offer? And what does that mean for your state’s well-being?
The fast food industry grossed more than $191 billion in 2013, according to Statista. Today, there are 50,000 fast food chains in America, totaling around 500,000 individual restaurants, reported the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
Perhaps that is why the obesity rate has also increased this year to 27.7 percent, the highest rate to date, encompassing almost a third of America’s population, with 1.7 million people diagnosed each year.
But the concentration of fast food and obesity isn’t equally distributed.
Information compiled by the Washington Examiner tended to show that the states with the least amount of fast food restaurants and lower obesity rates are western or northeastern states. On the other hand, those areas with the highest number of fast food restaurants and greater prevalence of diabetes were congregated in the Midwest and South.
The Examiner broke down some food facts, state-by-state, to see what the fast food industry is doing in each corner of the nation.
Information listed for each state contains the number of fast food restaurants per capita according to Dun and Bradstreet’s American Community Survey. Also indexed is whether a state contains any of the top 10 most obese cities in the nation, as well as whether the state itself is one of the 10 most obese states, according to data provided by a Gallup and Healthways survey. For comparison, Gallup and Healthway’s top 10 least obese cities and states in the nation are recorded as well. The list shows the most significant franchise to come out of each state as reported by Thrillist.
Read on to discover where your state ranks.
Number of Fast Food Restaurants Per Capita, ranked least to greatest:
50) Vermont
1.6296 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Vermont: Ben and Jerry’s
49) Maine
1.8219 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Maine: Gifford’s Ice Cream
48) New York
1.9049 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
New York is the eighth least obese state in the nation (24.7 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from New York: Sbarro
47) New Hampshire
1.9103 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Boston/Cambridge/Newton is the seventh least obese metropolitan area in the nation (21.3 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from New Hampshire: Moe’s Italian Sandwiches
46) Massachusetts
1.9561 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Worcester is the ninth most obese metropolitan area in the nation (33.0 percent )
Massachusetts is the fifth least obese state in the nation (24.0 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Massachusetts: Dunkin Donuts
45) New Jersey
2.0176 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from New Jersey: Blimpie
44) Connecticut
2.1543 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Bridgeport/Stamford/Norwalk is the fifth least obese metropolitan area in the nation (21.0 percent)
Connecticut is the tenth least obese state in the nation (24.9 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Connecticut: Subway
43) Rhode Island
2.1774 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Rhode Island: Del’s Frozen Lemonade
42) Alaska
2.1935 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Alaska: Great Alaskan Pizza Company
41) Pennsylvania
2.3658 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Harrisburg/Carlisle is the second most obese metropolitan area in the nation (35.3 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Pennsylvania: Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
40) Delaware
2.6639 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Delaware: Wings to Go
39) Washington
2.741 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Washington: Starbucks
38) Wisconsin
2.7511 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Wisconsin: Culver’s
37) Maryland
2.7767 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Maryland: Jerry’s Subs and Pizza
36) Minnesota
2.8031 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Minnesota is the ninth least obese state in the nation (24.8 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Minnesota: Dairy Queen
35) Oregon
2.9493 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Oregon: Papa Murphy’s
34) California
2.9961 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara is the second least obese metropolitan area in the nation (19.8 percent)
San Francisco/Oakland/Hayward is the tenth least obese metropolitan area in the nation (21.9 percent)
California is the fourth least obese state in the nation (23.9 percent)
Bakersfield is the eighth most obese metropolitan area in the nation (33.1 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from California: In-N-Out
33) Hawaii
3.0444 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Urban Honolulu is the sixth least obese metropolitan area in the nation (21.2 percent)
Hawaii is the nation’s least obese state (19.0 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Hawaii: Zippy’s
32) Florida
3.0663 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
North Port/Sarasota/Bradenton is the eighth least obese metropolitan area in the nation (21.4 percent)
Palm Bay/Melbourne/Titusville is the ninth least obese metropolitan area in the nation (21.8 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Florida: Burger King
31) Michigan
3.0973 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Michigan: Domino’s
30) Illinois
3.1482 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Illinois: McDonald’s
29) Arizona
3.1606 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Arizona: Cold Stone Creamery
28) Nevada
3.2527 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Nevada: PT’s Pub
27) Virginia
3.2862 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Virginia: Five Guys
26) Idaho
3.3852 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Idaho is the sixth least obese state in the nation (24.2 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Idaho: Moxie Java
25) Montana
3.3949 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Montana is the third least obese state in the nation (23.5 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Montana: Ted’s Montana Grill
24) West Virginia
3.3998 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
West Virginia is the second most obese state in the nation (34.3 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from West Virginia: Gino’s Pizza and Spaghetti
23) Colorado
3.4028 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Colorado Springs is the nation’s least obese metropolitan area (19.6 percent)
Denver/Aurora/Lakewood is the third least obese metropolitan area in the nation (20.3 percent)
Colorado is the second least obese state in the nation (20.3 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Colorado: Chipotle
22) North Dakota
3.4069 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from North Dakota: Space Aliens Grill and Bar
21) North Carolina
3.4886 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from North Carolina: Bojangles
20) South Dakota
3.4901 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
South Dakota is the seventh least obese state in the nation (24.6 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from South Dakota: The Milestone
19) Alabama
3.4964 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Alabama is the sixth most obese state in the nation (32.1 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Alabama: Checkers
18) New Mexico
3.5174 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from New Mexico: Blake’s Lotaburger
17) Missouri
3.5208 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Missouri is the tenth most obese state in the nation (30.9 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Missouri: Panera Bread
16) Georgia
3.6624 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Georgia: Chick-fil-A and Waffle House
15) Utah
3.6678 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Provo/Orem Utah is the fourth least obese metropolitan area in the nation (20.5 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Utah: Arctic Circle
14) South Carolina
3.714 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from South Carolina: Denny’s
13) Texas
3.7259 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Texas: Whataburger
12) Mississippi
3.7556 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Mississippi is the nation’s most obese state for the second year running (35.2 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Mississippi: Bumpers Drive-In
11) Louisiana
3.761 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Baton Rouge is the nation’s most obese metropolitan area (35.9 percent)
Louisiana is the third most obese state in the nation (33.2 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Louisiana: Popeyes
10) Nebraska
3.763 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Nebraska: Godfather’s Pizza
9) Ohio
3.7794 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Dayton is the fifth most obese metropolitan area in the nation (33.5 percent)
Toledo is the seventh most obese metropolitan area in the nation (33.1 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Ohio: Wendy’s
8) Indiana
3.8052 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Indianapolis/Carmel/Anderson is the 10th most obese metropolitan area in the nation (32.2 percent)
Indiana is the eighth most obese state in the nation (31.4 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Indiana: Steak n’ Shake
7) Iowa
3.8595 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Iowa is the ninth most obese state in the nation (31.1 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Iowa: Maid-Rite
6) Tennessee
3.9235 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Memphis is the sixth most obese metropolitan area in the nation (33.2 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Tennessee: Krystal
5) Wyoming
3.9815 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Wyoming: Taco John’s
4) Oklahoma
4.0019 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Tulsa is the fourth most obese metropolitan area in the nation (33.5 percent)
Oklahoma is the fifth most obese state in the nation (32.6 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Oklahoma: Sonic
3) Kansas
4.0061 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Kansas: Pizza Hut
2) Arkansas
4.009 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Little Rock/North Little Rock/Conway is third most obese metropolitan area in the nation (34.1 percent)
Arkansas is the fourth most obese state in the nation (33.0 percent)
Most Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Arkansas: Slim Chickens
1) Kentucky
4.1203 Fast Food Restaurants per 10,000 people
Kentucky is the seventh most obese state in the nation (31.5 percent)
Most restaurant Significant Chain Restaurant that originated from Kentucky: KFC
