Your meeting continues past lunchtime. Your know-it-all coworker continues their monologue, and after another two minutes, you snap at them.
Even the best of us get hangry. However, according to a Zippia study, residents of certain states, including Mississippi, may be more predisposed to it than others.
Do you live in one of the hungriest states in America?
What Is Hangry?
Hangry is a newer word derived from “hunger” and “angry.” It occurs when an otherwise good-natured person reacts irrationally to something that would not normally bother them.
Who is the culprit?
Hunger.
Ranking Hangry Behavior
Zippia embarked on the difficult task of identifying the top ten hungriest states in America. They ranked states using the following metrics:
- Number of Walmarts
- Number of fast food stores per capita
- “Hanger” Google search volume
- Percent of people with diabetes
- Worst break laws (fewer/shorter breaks equate to less time to eat)
These were the results, starting with the hangriest state.
1: Maine
Maine is the hungriest state in America.
The Pine Tree State has only 3.1 fast food restaurants per 10,000 residents and a double-digit percentage of diabetics, which offsets the state’s otherwise favourable lunch break policies.
2: Mississippi
Mississippi has 86 Walmarts, which provide many hungry residents with affordable food options.
What’s the problem?
There are no laws in Mississippi that require businesses to provide lunch breaks for their employees. That’s a recipe for being hangry.
3: Alaska
Photo Credit: Dbvirago via Depositphotos.com.
Alaska is a bad place to be hungry. There are only nine Walmarts and 2.6 fast food restaurants per 10,000 residents, making it difficult for many Alaskans to eat quickly when hunger strikes.
To make matters worse, in Alaska, break laws only apply to people under the age of 18; there are no break protections for people 18 and older.
4: Vermont
Vermont has only 1.9 fast food restaurants per 10,000 residents and six Walmarts, leaving people with few options for a quick and inexpensive meal when they are hungry.
The Green Mountain State’s break laws are also ambiguous, stating that employees must provide a “reasonable opportunity” to take a break and eat.
5: South Dakota
A diabetes rate of 10.6% doesn’t bode well for South Dakota and how hangry its residents may become.
The Mount Rushmore State also doesn’t have break laws for employees, even for those who are underage.
6: Idaho
Hungry Idahoans have few options for satisfying their hunger; the state has only 27 Walmarts and 3.8 fast food restaurants per 10,000 residents.
Diabetes affects 10.3% of people aged 18 and up, making hangry behaviours even more likely.
7: West Virginia
West Virginia appears to have a better fast food availability rate, with 44 Walmarts and 5.3 fast food restaurants per 10,000 residents.
However, diabetes affects 15.7% of West Virginians aged 18 and up, which can increase hunger.
As a result, it has one of the highest percentages of hangry residents in the United States.
8: Oregon
Oregon has a high Google search volume for “hanger,” indicating that it is something Oregonians are attempting to comprehend or combat.
The Beaver State also has only 3.6 fast food restaurants per 10,000 people.
9: Montana
Montana’s lack of break laws creates ideal hangry conditions.
The Treasure State only has 16 Walmarts, but its relatively low 7.6% diabetes rate among adults keeps it from ranking higher on this list.
10: Rhode Island
Rhode Island is one of the top ten hungriest states in the United States.
Diabetes affects more than one in every ten Rhode Islanders aged 18 and up, and the state has only 2.5 fast food restaurants per 10,000 residents.
The Diabetes Connection
People with diabetes may experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) as a result of taking blood sugar-lowering medications.
Being hangry is characterised by extreme hunger and irritability, which are common symptoms of hypoglycemia.
What’s Up With Walmart?
Zippia chose Walmart as a metric in its rankings because the mega-retailer provides residents with a wide variety of low-cost food options.
Drumroll for the Least Hangry State
Illinois is the least hangry state in the United States.
So, if you want to be surrounded by the most level-headed Americans, head to the Prairie State.
Runners Up
Georgia, Missouri, and North Carolina are also states with few hangry residents, ranking 49th, 48th, and 47th, respectively.