5 states still seeing obesity rates on the rise
WASHINGTON — U.S. adult obesity rates remained mostly steady ― but high ― this past year, increasing in Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio and Utah and remaining stable in the rest of the states, according to a new report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released Monday.
Arkansas had the highest adult obesity rate at 35.9% while Colorado had the lowest at 21.3%. The 12th annual report found that rates of obesity now exceed 35% in three states (Arkansas, West Virginia and Mississippi), are at or above 30% in 22 states and are not below 21% in any. In 1980, no state had a rate above 15%, and in 1991, no state had a rate above 20. Now, nationally, more than 30% of adults, nearly 17% of 2 to 19 year olds and more than 8% of children ages 2 to 5 are obese.
Obesity puts some 78 million Americans at an increased risk for a range of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
“Efforts to prevent and reduce obesity over the past decade have made a difference. Stabilizing rates is an accomplishment. However, given the continued high rates, it isn't time to celebrate,” stated Jeffrey Levi, executive director of TFAH. “We've learned that if we invest in effective programs, we can see signs of progress. But, we still haven't invested enough to really tip the scales yet.”
Other key findings from the State of Obesity report include:
Seven of the 10 states with the highest rates of obesity are in the South and nine of the 10 states with the highest rates of diabetes are in the South. Diabetes rates increased in eight states – Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania;
Nationally, obesity rates are 38% higher among Blacks than Whites; and more than 26% higher among Latinos than Whites. (Obesity rates for Blacks: 47.8%; Latinos: 42.5%; and Whites: 32.6%.);
Obesity rates are 26% higher among middle-age adults than among younger adults ― rates rise from 30% of 20- to 39- year olds to nearly 40% of 40- to 59-year-olds; and
More than 6% of adults are severely obese — more than a 125% increase in the past two decades. Around 5% of children are already severely obese by the ages of 6 to 11.