A new study released today updates the obesity rates for the US. Unfortunately the news isn’t good. Obesity rates increased in 23 states and not one single state saw a drop.
The breakdown in obesity rates is particularly disturbing among children. Mississippi has the highest rate of obesity among adults with 32.5% but the childhood obesity rate is a whopping 44.4%! Most states have higher obesity rates for children then adults.
I have heard a range of opinions about how to address this, issues include poverty, access to an active lifestyle, awareness campaigns through schools, public service ads, better advice from the medical community, improving school lunch programs, increasing gym time for children, etc.
Clearly something needs to be done. We are failing miserably. We are hurting ourselves as adults and setting our children up for a lifetime of medical issues, social stigmas and limitations.
I think any good idea should be heard and thrown into the pile. What do you think?
Below is a break down by state. Here’s the link to the report. The rank is for adult obesity rates.
Alabama: Adults 31.2%, Children 36.1%, Rank 2
Alaska: Adults 27.2%, Children 33.9%, Rank 18
Arizona: Adults 24.8%, Children 30.6%, Rank 33
Arkansas: Adults 28.6, Children 37.5%, Rank 10
California: Adults 23.6%, Children 30.5%, Rank 41
Colorado: Adults 18.9%, Children 27.2%, Rank 51
Connecticut: Adults 21.3%, Children 25.7%, Rank 49
Delaware: Adults 27.3%, Children 33.2%, Rank 17
District of Columbia: Adults 22.3%, Children 35.4%, Rank 45
Florida: Adults 24.1%, Children 33.1%, Rank 39
Georgia: Adults 27.9%, Children 37.3%, Rank 14
Hawaii: Adults 21.8%, Children 28.5%, Rank 47
Idaho: Adults 24.8%, Children 27.5%, Rank 33
Illinois: Adults 25.9%, Children 34.9%, Rank 27
Indiana: Adults 27.4%, Children 29.9%, Rank 16
Iowa: Adults 26.7%, Children 26.5%, Rank 22
Kansas: Adults 27.2%, Children 31.1%, Rank 18
Kentucky: Adults 29.0%, Children 37.1%, Rank 7
Louisiana: Adults 28.9%, Children 35.9%, Rank 8
Maine: Adults 24.7%, Children 28.2%, Rank 35
Maryland: Adults 26.0%, Children 28.8%, Rank 25
Massachusetts: Adults 21.2%, Children 30.0%, Rank 50
Michigan: Adults 28.8%, Children 30.6%, Rank 9
Minnesota: Adults 25.3%, Children 23.1%, Rank 31
Mississippi: Adults 32.5%, Children 44.4%, Rank 1
Missouri: Adults 28.1%, Children 31.0%, Rank 13
Montana: Adults 22.7%, Children 25.6%, Rank 43
Nebraska: Adults 26.9%, Children 31.5%, Rank 20
Nevada: Adults 25.1%, Children 34.2%, Rank 32
New Hampshire: Adults 24.1%, Children 29.4%, Rank 39
New Jersey: Adults 23.4%, Children 31.0%, Rank 42
New Mexico: Adults 24.6%, Children 32.7%, Rank 36
New York: Adults 24.5%, Children 32.9%, Rank 37
North Carolina: Adults 28.3%, Children 33.5%, Rank 12
North Dakota: Adults 26.7%, Children 25.7%, Rank 22
Ohio: Adults 28.6%, Children 33.3%, Rank 10
Oklahoma: Adults 29.5%, Children 29.5%, Rank 6
Oregon: Adults 25.4%, Children 24.3%, Rank 28
Pennsylvania: Adults 26.7%, Children 29.7%, Rank 22
Rhode Island: Adults 21.7%, Children 30.1%, Rank 48
South Carolina: Adults 29.7%, Children 33.7%, Rank 5
South Dakota: Adults 26.9%, Children 28.4%, Rank 20
Tennessee: Adults 30.2%, Children 36.5%, Rank 4
Texas: Adults 27.9%, Children 32.2%, Rank 14
Utah: Adults 22.5%, Children 23.1%, Rank 44
Vermont: Adults 22.1%, Children 26.7%, Rank 46
Virginia: Adults 25.4%, Children 31.0%, Rank 28
Washington: Adults 25.4%, Children 29.5%, Rank 28
West Virginia: Adults 31.1%, Children 35.5%, Rank 3
Wisconsin: Adults 26.0%, Children 27.9%, Rank 25
Wyoming: Adults 24.3%, Children 25.7%, Rank 38