Obesity Climbs in 28 States

The rate of adult obesity climbed in 28 states, according to a recent report. The new report, entitled “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future,” was conducted by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 38 states currently have adult obesity rates that have climbed above the 25 percent mark. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate that was above 20 percent.
The report also noted that obesity is more prevalent with certain racial groups, geographic locations and annual income. Both Blacks and Latino’s saw a higher obesity rate than whites in nearly 40 states and Washington D.C. Ten of eleven of the states with the highest obesity rate were located in the South.


Mississippi currently has the highest rate for adult obesity for the sixth year in a row with a whopping 33.8 percent of adults being considered obese.
The country has taken a number of steps in recent years to turn this problem around. While it may seem like it isn’t that big of a deal now, if the rate climbs much higher it could become more of a problem.
Washington DC had mixed messages in the recent study. While they fair great in the adult obesity rate with just 21.5 percent of the population being obese, they were ranked ninth in the nation with a childhood obesity rate of 20.1 percent. DC schools have, however, taken strides toward correcting the problem by changing a number of policies associated with the school lunch system in the District.

Filed Under: Research