Fattest American States: Where Does Yours Rank?

A new report has ranked the fattest states in America, and the findings are disturbing.  The report, entitled F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010, revealed that obesity rates in adults increased in 28 states over the past year.

Which state ranked number 1?  That would be Mississippi, where nearly 34% of adults in that state are classified as obese. There were 38 states with obesity rates over 25% in adults--shocking when compared with the fact that no state had a rate over 20% in 1991.

The number of states with obesity rates exceeding 30% has doubled from four to eight in the past year, and the number of adults who said that they do not engage physical activity of any kind went up in 12 states.

Additionally, it was found that 15.8% of high school students are overweight and 12% are obese.

According to Jeffrey Levi, PhD, a professor of health policy at George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, “Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges the country has ever faced, and troubling disparities exist based on race, ethnicity, region, and income...this report shows that the country has taken bold steps to address the obesity crisis in recent years, but the nation’s response has yet to fully match the magnitude of the problem.”

The state with the lowest obesity rate was Colorado, at 19.1%

A link with more information about the report and its findings can be found here.

Clearly, obesity is a serious health issue in our country--and one that is not going away anytime soon.  For more information, lecture topics, and treatment plans in the areas of weight management, obesity and nutrition, contact Allegheny Medical's WellnessCare for a complimentary consultation today at (412) 494-4554.