U.S. Obesity Rate Is Still Expanding

Americans continued to gain weight last year as the adult obesity rate inched up to 24.5% from 23.7% in 2003, a new report says.

More than a quarter of adults in 10 states are obese, and seven of those 10 states are in the Southeast. Colorado has the lowest adult obesity rate, at 16.8%. Only Oregon isn’t getting fatter.

The report, “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America, 2005,” was the second annual report released by the Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit, nonpartisan health advocacy organization in Washington.

“While it’s indisputable that individual behavior -- eating less and exercising more -- is critical to addressing this problem, the government and private industry also have important roles to play,” said Parris N. Glendening, coauthor of the report and a former governor of Maryland. “The bottom line is that there is a lot more that could and should be done.

“Our key finding is that federal programs are too limited,” he said. “Many states have launched promising programs.... But to really see changes in people’s health, these programs must grow significantly.”

Obesity is generally defined as being 20% or more above average weight for one’s height and age. Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, gallbladder and liver disease.

The report made numerous recommendations, challenging individuals and families to make even small changes in diet and physical activity. It also urged communities to offer free or low-cost fitness programs and provide healthy food at events.