Sweet Tooth Nation: Which States Lead in Sugar Consumption?

Americans consume an average of 17 teaspoons of added sugar per day, according to the American Heart Association—nearly twice the recommended daily limit for men and almost three times the limit for women.

Yet while this figure represents a national average, consumption patterns can vary significantly around the country, influenced by regional food cultures, local policies, and economic factors.

With that in mind, which states in the U.S. consume the most sugar? We looked at data from the National Center for Health Statistics, along with other government and industry data, to uncover the following trends. (Jump down to see our methodology)

How Sweet Are America’s States?

To determine our rankings, we accessed data from the National Center for Health Statistics regarding overall added-sugar intake, as well as industry data from the Beverage Marketing Corporation and a large national survey conducted by a dental care provider to zoom in on specific consumption habits for sugary snacks and drinks.

We combined these scores to produce a weighted topline score—these were the results.

Ranking the U.S. States That Consume the Most Sugar

As you can see, there’s quite a range between states at the top and bottom of the list—for example, residents of high-ranking states like South Dakota and Iowa consume more than twice as much soda and other sweetened drinks than those of low-ranking states like Washington, Alaska, and Oregon.

Let’s take a closer look at some highlights to see what the data reveal.

Kentucky Is the Sweetest of Them All

Kentucky emerged as the clear leader in sugar consumption, with residents consuming an average of 21.2 teaspoons of added sugar per day—substantially higher than the American Heart Association’s recommended limits of 9 teaspoons per day for men and 6 teaspoons per day for women. The Bluegrass State also saw above-average consumption of sweetened drinks and sugary snacks, according to our sources.

This finding aligns with Kentucky’s broader health challenges, as the state consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for obesity and diabetes rates. The state’s culinary traditions, which include sweet tea culture and comfort food staples, may contribute to these consumption patterns. Additionally, Kentucky has one of the highest poverty rates in the country, and research has shown that lower-income households often rely more heavily on processed foods and sugary beverages, which tend to be more affordable and accessible than fresh, whole foods.

Southern, Midwestern States Top the List

The regional trends in the top portion of our list reveal a striking geographic pattern, with Southern and Midwestern states dominating the rankings. Six of the top 10 states are located in the South (Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Alabama), while three are in the Midwest (South Dakota, Iowa, and Indiana). This regional clustering reflects several interconnected factors that may shape dietary patterns across these areas.

The South has a storied food culture centered around sweet tea, desserts, and comfort foods that often incorporate significant amounts of sugar—and corresponding high rates of diabetes and obesity. Additionally, these regions have historically had higher rates of poverty and food insecurity, which can lead to greater reliance on inexpensive, calorie-dense processed foods that are often high in added sugars. Southern and Midwestern states also tend to have a higher prevalence of chain restaurants, and research has shown that ordering from chain restaurants is correlated with consumption of high-sugar options.

The West and Northeast Consume Less Sugar

In contrast, the bottom portion of our list shows a concentration of Western and Northeastern states, which suggests different dietary patterns and policy environments in these regions. Seven of the bottom 10 states are located in the West (Nevada, Idaho, Montana, California, Washington, Alaska, and Oregon), with two in the Northeast (Vermont and Massachusetts); of the bottom 15, 5 were in the Northeast and 9 in the West.

Several factors likely contribute to these lower sugar consumption rates. First, Northeast and West states often have better access to local produce, giving residents more options for fresh, whole foods that can serve as alternatives to processed, sugar-laden products. Escoffier’s research has shown that states like Vermont, Oregon, Maine, and California lead the nation in local food availability and consumption; these states also placed low in the present analysis.

Additionally, some cities in California and Washington have implemented soda taxes, which are only in place in a handful of cities around the country. One study showed that soda taxes were successful in reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages by up to 33% in some areas. While these taxes are only present in a few cities and can’t fully explain the low rankings across entire states, they do indicate more of a cultural appetite for healthier food options and policy interventions aimed at reducing sugar consumption.

Methodology and Notes

To obtain these findings, we developed a three-category system that focused on consumption—specifically, overall added-sugar consumption, sweetened beverage consumption, and sugary snack consumption. We focused on consumption data rather than other metrics like number of establishments or market size because those numbers could be skewed by variables like tourism or geographic density.

For overall added-sugar consumption, we used data from the National Health Interview Survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics¹ that estimates Americans’ dietary intake based on comprehensive nutritional assessments across all 50 states.

For sweetened beverage consumption, we used data from the Beverage Marketing Corporation² that measures beverage purchases in each state, tracking per capita consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages including sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened teas.

For sugary snacks, we relied on data from a national survey of 1,135 participants conducted by dental care provider Main Street,³ which measured dietary habits of children aged 1-17, focusing specifically on frequency of sugary snack consumption including candy, cookies, pastries, and other confections.

Data in these three categories were first normalized to account for different scales and units of measurement. We then combined them into an aggregate score using equal weighting for each category, and normalized the final results again to produce our topline rankings on a 0-100 scale.

One limitation of our analysis is that consumption data can vary significantly based on survey methodology and reporting accuracy. However, by combining multiple data sources that measure different aspects of sugar consumption, we aimed to create a comprehensive picture of dietary patterns across states.

These findings reveal how cultural traditions, economic factors, and policy environments combine to create distinct regional patterns in America’s relationship with sugar, highlighting the complex forces that shape our national sweet tooth.

Sources

(1) National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey (via Nutrients)
(2) Beverage Marketing Corporation, Industry Data (via Current Developments in Nutrition)
(3) Main Street Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics, National Survey, 2023

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