When a celebrated individual suddenly finds themselves 10 people stripped of an accolade, the fallout can be as fascinating as the original achievement. From military commanders who fell from grace to Nobel laureates whose pasts were re‑examined, history is peppered with cases where honors were rescinded, titles removed, and reputations rewritten. Below, we count down ten of the most eyebrow‑raising revocations, each with its own twist of scandal, politics, or plain oddity.

10 The General Who Wanted To Be Flogged By Little Boys

General Eyre Coote began his career with a bang, enlisting in the British royal forces at just fourteen and seeing action on the American front during the Revolutionary War. After his return to England, he toured the globe—serving in Egypt, where his exploits earned him the distinguished Knight of the Bath, and later climbing to the rank of general while holding several high‑profile political posts.

Yet his stint in the West Indies left a lingering “effect on his brain,” as contemporaries put it. Over time, Coote’s conduct grew increasingly erratic, prompting his superiors to label him unfit for command. Charged with indecent conduct, the case was dismissed, but the Duke of York, aghast at the details, ordered a deeper probe.

Accounts vary, but by 1815 Coote had entered the Mathematical School at Christ’s Hospital and began an odd conversation about flogging with the boys. He inquired whether any of them had ever been flogged, whether they would dare flog him, and even offered cash for the act. When a nurse discovered the discussion, authorities initially dropped the matter after deeming him mentally unsound at the time and after he made a £1,000 donation to the school at their request. The later Duke‑of‑York investigation, however, ruled that Coote was merely eccentric, not insane, and that his behavior was indefensible. The clash of flogging fantasies, boyish innocence, and knighthood proved untenable; he was dismissed from the army in 1816 and his knighthood was formally stripped.

9 Richard Vogt’s Censored Speech

Richard Vogt, a well‑known herpetologist specializing in turtles, earned the Distinguished Herpetologist Award from the Herpetologists’ League during the 2018 joint meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. The accolade, however, vanished the very next day.

The controversy didn’t stem from Vogt’s spoken words but from the slides accompanying his acceptance address. The presentation displayed his female field assistants in bikinis—a commonplace sight for researchers working in aquatic habitats, yet the images were deemed “atypical” and overly revealing. The audiovisual team felt compelled to black out portions of the pictures, covering the students with blue boxes.

Unaware of the censorship, Vogt delivered his speech while many audience members abruptly rose and exited. Observers questioned the appropriateness of showcasing such images at a prestigious gathering. Colleagues noted that Vogt had used similar slide decks for two decades, suggesting a long‑standing, albeit controversial, practice.

8 The Nobel Prize‑Winning Nazi

Konrad Lorenz, a pioneering zoologist and animal psychologist famed for his work on imprinting, secured the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1973. During World War II, he served as a German army doctor, later becoming a professor at the University of Königsberg. After the war, he resumed his academic career and accumulated at least one honorary doctorate.

That honorary doctorate from the University of Salzburg was rescinded when it emerged that Lorenz had concealed his active involvement with the Nazi regime’s Office of Racial Policy. Documents revealed he had advocated for the extermination of certain population segments and published papers classifying various groups as inferior.

While some argue his wartime writings reflect “political naïveté,” others contend his Nazi affiliations disqualify him from any honor. Notably, the Nobel Committee’s statutes forbid revoking a prize once awarded, asserting that the accolade recognizes the recipient’s achievements irrespective of later conduct.

7 The Royal Photographer, Undone

Ernest Brooks entered the British military as a teenager, where he first encountered photography while serving Lady Vivian, the widow of a former lieutenant general. Capturing her guests, Brooks sold some images to a local newspaper, igniting his passion for the medium.

Leveraging his connections, Brooks eventually secured the role of official photographer for the British royal family. He gained further fame documenting the First World War from a British perspective. Though he preferred authentic war photography over propaganda, the government co‑opted many of his pictures for morale‑boosting purposes, enhancing his public profile in an unintended way.

The exact reason for his dismissal remains murky, but his close proximity to the monarchy and the intimate nature of his work likely contributed. In 1925, he was stripped of all honors, including his Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and his name was expunged from the official registry. The public removal served as a stark warning to other artists whose work displeased the crown, yet it paradoxically amplified interest in Brooks’s photography.

6 The Night Raider

Each year the Natural History Museum in London runs a wildlife photography contest. In 2017, Marcio Cabral clinched the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award in the “Animals in Their Environment” category with a striking shot of an anteater approaching a bioluminescent termite mound.

Following his triumph, the museum received an anonymous tip alleging that the featured anteater was a taxidermied specimen. A panel of five experts—including three mammalogists, an anteater specialist, and a taxidermy authority—investigated. Their independent analyses concluded that the animal in Cabral’s image was indistinguishable from the museum’s displayed specimen.

Cabral supplied raw image files taken before and after the anteater appeared, none of which captured the creature. He also presented a witness who claimed to have seen the live animal and denied any staging. Nevertheless, the museum upheld its decision, disqualifying Cabral and stripping him of the Photographer of the Year title. The judges’ anonymity meant another winner could not be named, preserving the contest’s integrity.

5 Miss Earth Lebanon Stripped Of Title After Posing With Miss Earth Israel

The Miss Earth pageant, which promotes environmental awareness, featured 89 nations in its 2018 edition, including Lebanon and Israel. When Miss Earth Lebanon posed for a photograph beside Miss Earth Israel, Lebanese organizers promptly stripped her of the title.

Lebanese law forbids its citizens from visiting or interacting with Israelis. The photo, which quickly spread across social media, violated that statute, prompting officials to revoke her crown. A former Miss Universe contestant from Lebanon faced a similar controversy after a selfie with an Israeli contestant surfaced; she escaped punishment by claiming the image was taken without her consent and describing herself as “ambushed.”

Salwa Akar, the former Miss Earth Lebanon, recounted that Miss Earth Israel approached her in Arabic, and she was unaware of her identity. Nonetheless, Lebanese officials emphasized the visible Israeli sash and upheld the revocation. The incident even drew comment from the Arabic‑language spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who rebuked the decision, while Akar posted a muted Facebook update without addressing the debacle.

4 Little House On The Prairie Deemed Racist

The Association for Library Service to Children created an award honoring authors who made a lasting impact on children’s literature, naming it after Laura Ingalls Wilder to celebrate her “Little House on the Prairie” series. Wilder herself received the inaugural honor in 1954, a few years before her death.

In recent years, the award’s name was rescinded. Critics argued that the series, while beloved, portrays minorities—particularly Native Americans—in a demeaning, dehumanizing manner. The Association concluded that the values expressed in Wilder’s books conflicted with its commitment to inclusiveness and respect, prompting a rename to the “Children’s Literature Legacy Award.”

Some view the decision as an anachronistic imposition of modern standards on historical works, yet the organization maintained that the award’s title must reflect contemporary values of diversity and equity.

3 A Happy Ending For A Sex Toy Company Stripped Of Its Prize

Lora DiCarlo, a maker of advanced robotic sex toys, unveiled the “Ose,” a female massager designed to emulate human touch, at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show. Judges were impressed, awarding the product in the robotics category.

Shortly after, the Consumer Technology Association rescinded the honor, labeling the device “immoral” and “obscene,” arguing it didn’t align with the show’s image. The decision sparked accusations of gender bias, as men’s sex dolls and VR porn were regularly displayed without objection. Lora DiCarlo filed a complaint, asserting discriminatory treatment.

The story took a positive turn when the founder of YouPorn offered $50,000 in free advertising for the Ose. In May 2019, the CTA reinstated the award, acknowledging the controversy and restoring the company’s accolade.

2 Aung San Suu Kyi’s Rise And Fall

Aung San Suu Kyi, once the darling of the international community, earned the Nobel Peace Prize while under house arrest in Myanmar. Her steadfast advocacy for democracy garnered numerous awards and honors worldwide.

She later assumed a leadership role as “state counselor” in Myanmar’s civilian government, navigating constitutional barriers that barred foreigners’ relatives from the presidency. The military retained a veto power, but democratic reforms appeared to be progressing.

However, the Rohingya crisis erupted, with the military’s crackdown prompting accusations of ethnic cleansing. Suu Kyi downplayed the atrocities, describing the term “too strong.” Calls erupted to strip her of the Nobel Prize, but the Nobel Committee maintained its policy of awarding based on past deeds, refusing to rescind the honor. Other organizations, lacking such protections, withdrew their recognitions, and Amnesty International ceased to list her as a human‑rights champion.

1 The Soviet Spy Knighted By The Queen

While studying at Cambridge, Anthony Blunt fell under the sway of left‑wing ideas, joining the Cambridge Apostles—a secretive group that prized loyalty above all. There, he met Guy Burgess, who recruited him into the Soviet spy ring.

During World II, Blunt served in the British Army’s Intelligence Corps, later joining MI5 and heading the division responsible for communications with foreign embassies. Trusted implicitly, he was tasked with a covert royal mission to retrieve sensitive documents about the Duke of Windsor’s ties to Hitler.

Blunt believed these papers would serve as insurance if his espionage ever came to light. When the spy network was uncovered, he received immunity in exchange for confession, avoiding prosecution and retaining his position as the Queen’s picture surveyor. Public revelation of his treachery arrived via a bestselling book, prompting the government to explain its leniency. Nonetheless, authorities stripped him of his 1956 knighthood.

These ten tales illustrate that honors, however prestigious, can be as fragile as the reputations that earn them. Whether due to personal indiscretion, political upheaval, or shifting cultural standards, each story reminds us that the spotlight can quickly turn into a shadow.

Humans love to be recognized with medals, trophies and applause, but our animal companions usually take a more laid‑back stance toward awards. Still, when a creature performs a feat of such daring that it saves lives or changes history, we can’t resist pinning a tiny medal on its chest. Below we count down the top 10 animals that have been honored by humans for extraordinary bravery and service.

Top 10 Animals With High Honors

10 Magawa

Rats rarely win the popularity contest when it comes to heroic accolades, yet Magawa, a giant pouched rat, was bestowed a gleaming gold medal for “lifesaving bravery and devotion to duty.” This unassuming rodent works the perilous front line of land‑mine clearance in Cambodia, using his keen sense of smell to locate explosives while his lightweight body ensures he never triggers them. In his career he helped clear an area equivalent to twenty football fields.

Cambodia’s landscape is scarred by millions of hidden mines, and thousands of civilians have perished in accidental detonations. Even the most advanced detection technology can be slow and hazardous. Magawa’s daily routine consists of a half‑hour sniff‑session each morning, rewarded with a modest treat, during which he uncovers mines that would otherwise keep his human handlers occupied for the entire day.

Now approaching retirement, Magawa is set to hand over the reins to a new generation of trained rats. Should they continue his stellar performance, more of these tiny heroes may soon find themselves wearing a gold medal of their own.

9 William Windsor

Not every animal honored by humans behaves like a textbook soldier, but the British Army’s 1st Battalion Royal Welch has a long tradition of adopting a goat as its mascot, a practice dating back to Queen Victoria. In 2001 the regiment received goat army number 25232301, affectionately known as William “Billy” Windsor, who was granted the rank of Lance Corporal.

With that rank, any soldier outranked by Billy had to stand at attention as he strutted by. However, his debut overseas was less than exemplary: during a parade he ignored a direct order and veered off‑line, leading to a demotion to Fusilier. He later reclaimed his original rank and eventually retired from service.

Beyond the honor of rank, Billy enjoyed unique perks: two cigarettes to chew on each day and a daily ration of Guinness. His story remains a whimsical reminder that even mascots can climb the military ladder.

8 Lucca

The Dickin Medal stands as the pinnacle of animal bravery awards, presented by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) to those who display extraordinary gallantry in wartime. Lucca, a United States Marine Corps dog, earned the distinction of being the first American canine to receive this British honor.

During six years of deployment in Afghanistan, Lucca participated in over 400 patrols, expertly sniffing out improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that threatened troops. On one mission she identified a massive 30‑kilogram device; moments later another detonated, inflicting burns and injuries on Lucca, ultimately resulting in the amputation of her front leg.

After recovery, Lucca was flown to London where she was presented with the Dickin Medal. She also received a Purple Heart from the United States for her combat injuries, presented in an informal ceremony by a Marine who himself had twice earned the award.

7 GI Joe

The first American recipient of the Dickin Medal dates back to World War II, when a pigeon named GI Joe saved more than a hundred Allied lives. During the rapid Allied advance through Italy, troops captured a village still under German control, risking friendly bombing because the airbase had no idea they were there.

With radio communications down, the unit turned to their last hope: pigeon USA43SC6390, nicknamed GI Joe. He made a 20‑mile flight back to the British 10th Army headquarters, delivering a message that halted the planned bombing just in time.

The citation accompanying his Dickin Medal read: “This bird is credited with making the most outstanding flight by a USA army pigeon in World War II, making the 20‑mile flight from British 10th Army HQ, in the same number of minutes, it brought a message which arrived just in time to save the lives of at least 100 Allied soldiers from being bombed by their own planes.” After the war, GI Joe enjoyed a long, happy retirement.

6 Kuno

Dogs have long been celebrated as humanity’s steadfast companions, especially on the battlefield where they often risk everything for their handlers. Kuno, a British special forces dog, faced a harrowing encounter with an al‑Qaida gunman during an assault on an insurgent compound.

While the Royal Navy’s Special Boat Service came under intense machine‑gun fire and grenade barrages, Kuno lunged at one of the gunmen, allowing his human teammates to secure their objective. He sustained gunshot wounds to both hind legs; one leg required amputation, and he became the first British forces dog to receive custom‑made prosthetic limbs.

Now retired, Kuno runs freely with his prosthetics and continues to inspire. He was awarded the Dickin Medal, with the British Defence Secretary noting that without Kuno, the outcome of the operation could have been dramatically different, emphasizing his life‑saving impact.

10 Ageless Animals That Do Not Grow Old

5 Reckless

The United States Marine Corps granted a single animal an official rank during the Korean War: a pack horse named Reckless, who rose to the rank of Sergeant. Reckless proved to be unusually clever, quickly mastering her training.

When fellow Marines shouted “Incoming!” Reckless instinctively sprinted for cover, learned to navigate barbed wire, and even lay down to dodge bullets. Her most remarkable feat came when she made 51 trips under heavy enemy fire, delivering ammunition and ferrying wounded soldiers back from the front lines, despite being wounded by shrapnel twice.

Her extraordinary bravery earned her two Purple Hearts, two Navy Presidential Unit Citations, a Navy Unit Commendation, four Korean Service medals, and a Marine Corps Good Conduct medal before she retired.

4 Sergeant Stubby

Not every military dog is a towering beast; Sergeant Stubby was a modest‑sized mixed‑breed who stumbled into service during World I after being found roaming Yale University’s campus. Smuggled aboard a transport ship, he earned his place when he saluted an officer, securing his spot in the 102nd Infantry Regiment.

During 18 months of combat across 17 battles, Stubby proved invaluable: his keen nose warned troops of incoming gas attacks, his bark alerted soldiers to German movements, and he served as a “mercy dog,” seeking out and comforting injured comrades on the battlefield.

After being wounded, Stubby survived the war, met Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren Harding, and often led parades, proudly marching at the head of troops. His crowning honor was a promotion to Sergeant in the U.S. Army.

3 Tirpitz the Pig

During World I, many ships kept pigs aboard as a fresh source of meat, and one such swine found herself on the German cruiser SMS Dresden. When the vessel engaged in battle off the Falkland Islands and began sinking, most crew members abandoned ship, but Tirpitz the pig leapt into the sea and swam toward the British HMS Glasgow.

Spotted and hauled aboard the British ship, she was christened Tirpitz after the famed German admiral and awarded a mock Iron Cross for her loyalty in staying with the Dresden while her human crew fled.

Although she caused mischief—once breaking into a chicken coop during shore leave, requiring ten men to wrestle her back onto the Glasgow—she became a beloved mascot. Later, she was auctioned for 400 guineas, with proceeds benefiting the Red Cross, and after her death her stuffed head was displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London.

2 Bucephalus

Alexander the Great never did anything by halves, and his reverence for his legendary war horse, Bucephalus, was no exception. The untamed giant was initially offered to Alexander’s father, but only the young Alexander possessed the courage to tame him.

Impressed, his father proclaimed, “O my son, look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee.” From that moment, Bucephalus rode alongside Alexander through countless campaigns, becoming an inseparable companion on the battlefield.

When Bucephalus eventually died, Alexander ordered a grand funeral and founded a city—Alexandria Bucephalous—on the banks of the Indus River, ensuring his beloved horse’s memory would endure for centuries.

1 Cher Ami

In the chaotic, gas‑filled trenches of World I, communication failures could be deadly. When Major Charles White Whittlesaw’s 550‑man battalion was pinned down and their runners failed to reach friendly lines, they faced friendly artillery fire because the enemy could not locate them.

Turning to carrier pigeons—a vital wartime resource protected by strict British law—two were shot down before the final pigeon, Cher Ami, was dispatched with a desperate message: “We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heavens’ sake stop it.”

Despite being hit in the breast by German fire, Cher Ami managed to limp to safety, delivering the message that stopped the bombardment and saved over a hundred lives. Injured and left blinded in one eye with a severely damaged leg, she received intensive medical care, was awarded the French Croix de Guerre, and later flew to the United States after a ceremony with General John Pershing.

It’s human nature to want to be recognized and acknowledged. Kids want to show off their art to their parents. Employees want to stand out at work. And even citizens of towns or whole countries get some kind of a patriotic thrill out of their place of residence being known for being the best or the biggest or whatever their claim to fame may be. Unfortunately, being a standout isn’t always a good thing, especially when you’re better than everyone else at something unenviable.

10. Lake Michigan is By Far the Deadliest Lake in America

Any body of water is potentially dangerous. Accidents happen on the water all the time and around 4,000 Americans drown every year. But of all the places in America where you need to be wary of getting in the water, no place has a worse reputation than Lake Michigan. 

In 2022, 43 people drowned in Lake Michigan. Its rip currents are infamous and have claimed hundreds of lives over the years. There were 48 deaths in 2021, 56 in 2020 and 48 in 2019. Compare that to other lakes known for their high fatality rates like Lake Champlain in Vermont, where a dozen people per year drown, 

Lake Lanier has claimed 700 lives since 1956 and is sometimes considered America’s most dangerous when averaged out. Accidents, injuries and fatalities are par for the course year after year and it does stand to reason since as many as 10 million people will visit the lake in any given year. Stats show that many of the accidents on the man-made lake are the result of drinking while boating. But even the current yearly stats there are far less than what Lake Michigan is doing.

9. Every County in Mississippi had Teen Pregnancy Rates Above the National Average

In 2012, Mississippi was struggling with the fact that literally every county in the state had a higher teen pregnancy rate than the national average. It was blamed, in part, on the fact that the state had historically not taught sex education in schools and instead tried to rely on abstinence-only education. Obviously that’s not very effective. So they planned to shift to a new educational program to help fix the numbers.

Fast forward to 2020 and Mississippi had indeed lowered their overall rate of teen pregnancy. That said, so had every other state and Mississippi was still the state with the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country. In fact, on a world stage, it’s still pretty bad.

Teen pregnancy rates in Mississippi had been as high as 111 per 1,000 in some countries back in 2012. They lowered that to 71.9 in some counties. But the world rate for teen pregnancy was actually only 42.5 in 2021.

Across the whole state, rates are now down to an average of 27.9 per one thousand. That still puts Mississippi in the number one spot across the United States, but it is getting down closer to some others. 

8. More New Jersey Millennials Live With Their Parents Than In Any Other State

Whether this qualifies as a dubious honor really depends on your own opinions but the media certainly made something of the revelation that Millennials in New Jersey were opting to live with their parents at a far greater number than those in other states. 

Based on US Census data, New Jersey ranked at the top of the list when it came to adult children, aged 18 to 34, who stayed with mom and dad. In 2015, 46.9% of them were still at home. That was an increase of over 10% from 10 years earlier. The national average was 34.1% while North Dakota was at the other end of the scale with just 14.1% sticking around.

Cost of living in New Jersey seems to be a key factor in most Millennials choosing to stay with their parents. It’s too expensive to go independent and finding jobs elsewhere seems to be an issue, though the specific reason why this affects those in New Jersey more than anywhere else isn’t clear.

7. Wyoming’s Suicide Rate is Much Higher Than the National Average

In 2020, about 1.2 million Americans attempted suicide. Nearly 46,000 people succeeded. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death and it crosses through all demographics. But of all the states in America, Wyoming has the most serious problem with this issue.

Wyoming’s suicide rate was an upsetting 30.5 per 100,000. That’s more than twice the national average of 14. It’s also the highest rate per capita. In 2023, while it seems to have gone down slightly to 29.3, it’s still high above all other states. The sheriff of Casper, the state’s largest city, said they respond to suicide calls twice as often as shoplifting ones.

The state has been trying to deal with the issue though the reasons behind it remain complex and puzzling Some have pointed out that Wyoming has long been the heart of “cowboy country” and a place where men stereotypically keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves, where you have to “man up” rather than address serious issues.

6. Kentucky Has the Highest Cancer Rates in the Country

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States behind heart disease. On average, there are 438 cases of cancer per every 100,00 Americans and nearly 2 million people per year will be diagnosed. 

A state like New Mexico comes in on the far end of the scale with 361.1 cases per 100,000, making them one of the lowest in the entire country and a fair degree below the national average. But Kentucky has the unfortunate distinction of being on the opposite end of things. There are 510.2 cases per 100,000 in Kentucky, giving it the highest cancer rates in the country. It also has the highest rate of cancer deaths as well. 

Breast cancer and lung cancer were the two most common types in the state. The exact reasons can’t really be broken down clearly but anything from diet and weight to physical activity and pollution can contribute to rates.

5. The Murder Rate in St. Louis is Massively Higher Than the National Average

In 2020, the homicide rate in the United States was 6.52 murders per 100,000. That was historically higher than it had been since 2001. While bigger cities are often cited as being unsafe, with New York and Chicago as stand outs for their violence, neither comes particularly close to being the deadliest cities in the country, an honor which is taken by St. Louis. 

In 2019, there were 194 murders in St. Louis. That rose to 263 in 2020, 200 in 2021 and 200 again in 2022. Per 100,000 residents, that’s a murder rate of 69.4. Compared to the national average of 6.52, that’s a staggering increase.

Baltimore is the second deadliest city, and the rate drops considerably to 51.1. Chicago, often reference for its gun violence in the media, is down in the 10th spot with 24 murders. In 2017, new York’s murder rate was just 3.7, which didn’t even rank in the top 50.

4. Hawaii’s Cost of Living is Far Higher Than the Rest of the Country

Hawaii is the one state in America that qualifies as a tropical vacation destination. Nearly one million people visit Hawaii every month so it’s safe to say people love to visit there. That said, living there may be another matter altogether as the cost of living in Hawaii is remarkably higher than it is anywhere else in America. 

After Manhattan, Honolulu is the most expensive city in America in which to live, with a cost of living 97.6% above the national average. It also works out to more than 20% higher than the average wage. This is chiefly due to the remote location of the island state. All supplies are flown or shipped in by boat and that makes everything more expensive. Groceries are 60% more expensive in Honolulu than the average across the country with eggs averaging three times the price of any other city. 

The average home in Hawaii is over $730,000 and only 29% of residents can afford home ownership. The median two-bedroom apartment costs $1,651 across the state while in Honolulu a two-bedroom place will set you back $3,500.

3. Billings, Montana Has the Highest Rate of Depression in America

We’ve already seen that Wyoming has the highest suicide rate in America but that may be, in part, because people are not as open to seeking help for things like depression. If they did, perhaps the statistics in Billings, Montana would be different. Billings has the highest rate of depression in the country.

About 7.1% of the entire US population has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Keep in mind, that’s just the people diagnosed so the real number is likely much higher, it’s just that many people have not sought help. 

On a city level, Billings, Montana has a rate of 31% of its citizens diagnosed with depression. That’s over four times the national average. Only two other cities ranked over 30% and those were Knoxville and Kingsport-Bristol.

Why would Billings be such a hub for depression? There are actually a number of potential causes that have been looked into that range from vitamin D deficiency to altitude to high prevalence of demographics most susceptible to depression and mental illness. 

2. West Virginia is the Most Overweight State in America

There’s been no shortage of media coverage for decades now about the average American’s diet and weight and often, though erroneously, America is often considered the “fattest” country in the world. That doesn’t change the fact that many Americans do live unhealthy lifestyles and about 30.7% are overweight.

Amongst all states. West Virginia is the standout for being the most overweight. Only West Virginia and Kentucky have a prevalence of self-reported obesity above 40% and while Kentucky ranked at 40.3%, West Virginia came in at 40.6%.  

1. Louisiana Ranks as the Most Polluted State in America

Louisiana is known for a lot of things including Cajun cuisine and Mardi Gras but it also holds the more troubling distinction of being the most polluted state in the country as well.

The state is loaded with industrial plants that produce high levels of toxins which have polluted air quality and waterways for years now. In 2022, studies linked the remarkably high cancer rates in Louisiana to their extreme air pollution. It’s so bad that the stretch between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is literally known as Cancer Alley.