Isn't it also the poorest state in the nation?
How cheap are Carbs (sugars)? Cheaper than foods that are high in protein? Cheaper than foods with the "healthy" fats?
I suspect that the culprit is that the poorest people tend to eat the cheapest foods and tend to overeat in case the next meal isn't a sure thing.
There are also probably some other factors, like traditional foods in certain areas, that are "bad news" (Fried stuff down south. Anything from a street vendor in NY. Seven donut shops per block in MA. etc) These are usually not indicative of staple foods, however.
No, WVA isn't the poorest state. It's close, but not like MS, MO, etc.
And the buffets we saw had a good selection of healthy food, as well as fatty stuff. The buffet costs the same whether you eat a ton of fatty stuff, or a reasonable amount of healthy food.
If people are going to go out for a buffet dinner, what is their reason for eating a huge amount of food? More for their money, even though it is bad for them in the end?
(I love buffets, because I am a grazer. I like having just a bit of a lot of things. But I know that most buffet goers are there for quantity. And they get fat.)