Alabama is getting bigger, so to speak.

But then, so is the rest of the United States.

Bigger around the middle, that is. Alabama is the fifth-most obese state, according to the ranking by U.S. News & World Report.

And what may be more concerning is that the state seems to be moving up in the rankings. Last year, the same list had Alabama at No. 7.

The ranking was tabulated using adult obesity rates for all 50 states, based on self-reported survey data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments.

Why is this important? An estimated 2 in 5 American adults are obese, or basically, having a body mass index of 30 or above, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And because of this, Americans who struggle with their weight face other dangers, such as stroke, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Thirty-nine states with data available for 2023 posted age-adjusted obesity rates of 30% or more, with three hitting a threshold of at least 40%, according to U.S. News. Alabama finished just below that, at 39.4%.

Another survey this year had 3 of the most obese cities in the U.S. situated in Alabama.

The most obese state was West Virginia, followed by Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. In fact, seven of the top 10 most obese states were in the South.

The least obese state? Colorado.