Obesity Continues To Grow In The United States

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Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness;  Nutrition / Diet;  Public Health
Article Date: 29 Aug 2006 - 13:00 PDT

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Despite efforts at federal and state levels to combat America's growing obesity problem, over the past twelve months obesity has continued to rise in 31 states, according to a report, called 'F as in Fat, 2006', from the Trust for America's Health. The trust suggests US authorities continue to fail to provide effective solutions.

Mississippi tops the obesity league of US states - 29.5% of its adults are obese. Alabama is second and West Virginia is third. Colorado is the nimblest state, where 16.9% of its people are obese. Washington D.C. and 18 other states saw their obesity rates remain the same.

It does not look like all states will meet the national goal of a 15% drop in obesity rates by 2010. In fact, the way things are going, the country as a whole may well see a rise by then.

There are now 13 states where over 25% of adults are obese.

Here is a list of the states with most obese people

1 Mississippi 29.5% (+/- 0.9)
2 Alabama 28.7% (+/- 1.1)
3 West Virginia 28.6% (+/- 1.0)
4 Louisiana 27.4% (+/- 0.9)
5 Kentucky 26.7% (+/- 1.0)
6 Tennessee 26.6% (+/- 1.1)
7 Arkansas 26.4% (+/- 0.9)
8 (Tied) Indiana 26.2% (+/- 0.8)
8 (Tied) South Carolina 26.2% (+/- 0.7)
10 Texas 25.8% (+/- 0.8)

Here is a list of the least obese states

42 Nevada 21.0% (+/- 1.3)
43 Utah 20.8% (+/- 0.9)
44 Arizona 20.8% (+/- 1.3)
45 Montana 19.9% (+/- 0.9)
46 Connecticut 19.6% (+/- 0.8)
47 Vermont 19.5% (+/- 0.7)
48 Rhode Island 19.5% (+/- 0.9)
49 Massachusetts 18.6% (+/- 0.7)
50 Hawaii 18.2% (+/- 1.0)
51 Colorado 16.9% (+/- 0.7)

F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America 2006
Trust for America's Health
Click Here To Download the Full Report (PDF)

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today