America Losing Battle of the Bulge

Jul 21, 2009
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As the economy slumped, waistlines surged, according to the latest national obesity report card, which found that adult obesity rates increased in 23 states over the past year. At the same time, not a single state posted a decrease in obesity, and three of every ten children living in 30 states are overweight or obese. Overall, two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese, the report found.

Sixteen states experienced an increase in obesity rates for the second year in a row, and 11 states experienced an increase for the third straight year. Mississippi was once again the fattest state with 32.5% of its adult residents obese. But Mississippi was not an anomaly in the region — eight of the top ten states are in the South. According to the report, adult obesity rates now exceed 25% in 31 states and exceed 20% in 49 states and Washington, D.C.. By way of contrast, in 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20%. Here are the report’s top 10-ranked by percent of obese adults:

1. Mississippi (32.5%)

2. Alabama (31.2%)

3. West Virginia (31.1%)

4. Tennessee (30.2%)

5. South Carolina (29.7%)

6. Oklahoma (29.5%)

7. Kentucky (29.0%)

8. Louisiana (28.9%)

9. Michigan (28.8%)

10. (tie) Arkansas (28.6%) and Ohio (28.6%)

Trust for America’s Health Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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