Mississippi had the highest rate of adult obesity at 32.5 percent, making it the fifth year in a row that the state topped the list. Four states now have rates above 30 percent, including Mississippi, West Virginia (31.2 percent), Alabama (31.1 percent) and Tennessee (30.2 percent). Eight of the 10 states with the highest percentage of obese adults are in the South. Colorado continued to have the lowest percentage of obese adults at 18.9 percent.
Mississippi also had the highest rate of obese and overweight children (ages 10 to 17) at 44.4 percent. Minnesota and Utah had the lowest rate at 23.1 percent. Eight of the 10 states with the highest rates of obese and overweight children are in the South. Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980.
The Trust for America’s Health has much more.
Is it possible that “Trust for America’s Health” has a political agenda?
I spend every day helping people lose fat / get fit / etc…, so I am all in favor of public efforts to help people improve their health/fitness.
But I keep getting this funny feeling that these reports about the Obesity Epidemic are designed to scare people.
Fear is a great tool for driving public opinion & gov’t policy