Obesity rate increases in many states
Americans are fat and getting fatter, according to a new report that finds that adults and children in the United States continue to pack on the pounds.
Adult obesity went up in 23 states, according to the report released last week by advocacy groups Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. If that weren’t bad enough, in 30 states, the percentage of overweight or obese children is at or above 30%.
Take a bow, Mississippi, you’re No. 1 for the fifth year in a row, with an adult obesity rate of 32.5%. Colorado ranks lowest at 18.9%. And California is in 41st place with 23.6%. Mississippi also holds the No. 1 spot for obese and overweight children ages 10 to 17, with a rate of 44.4%. Ouch.
Utah and Minnesota tied for the bottom spot at 23.1%, and California is in 28th place at 30.5%. Southern states take a hit, accounting for eight out of the top 10 states ranked highest for adult obesity.
The report, titled “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009,” also found that no states had a decrease in obesity rates, but 16 had rates go up for the second year in a row, and 11 saw rates increase for the third year in a row.
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