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Sixteen U.S. states now have obesity rates of at least 35% – more than ever before, new maps reveal.
More than a third of adults in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia were dangerously overweight in 2020, according to data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
That’s nearly double the nine states in 2018 that saw the prevalence of obesity at 35% or more.
Colorado does the best with an obesity rate of 24.2 percent while Mississippi has the worst at 39.7 percent.
Racial and ethnic disparities still persist with three times as many states having at least 35 percent overweight Hispanic residents compared to overweight whites – and five times as many states with at least 35 percent overweight black residents. .
In the annual report, researchers warn that obesity can worsen the results of COVID-19, increasing the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and even death.
A new CDC map revealed that 16 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia have adult obesity rates of at least 35% (above)
The data comes from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which is a telephone survey conducted by the CDC and state health departments.
The CDC report found that obesity rates among adults increased as their education level declined.
Adults without a high school diploma had an obesity rate of 38.8%, compared with 34% of adults with a high school diploma, 34.1% of adults with a university degree and 25% of graduates academics.
Differences were also apparent between the races.
Only seven states had an obesity prevalence of 35% or more among white adults.
In comparison, 22 states had the same prevalence of obesity among Hispanic adults and 35 states have black populations of which at least one-third were obese.
Asians were the ethnic group least likely to report high rates of obesity. Of the 35 states with sufficient data, 33 reported rates below 20%.
The other two – South Carolina and Alaska – reported rates of 23.7% and 25.5%, respectively.
Twenty-one states had a Hispanic population with more than a third of obese adults (above), three times the number of white states
Thirty-five states had a black population with more than a third of obese adults (above), five times the number of white states
The researchers also found that middle-aged adults were about twice as likely to be dangerously overweight as young adults.
People aged 18 to 24 had the lowest obesity rate at 19.5%, while the 45 to 54 age group had the highest rate at 38.1%.
Disparities were also observed between regions of the United States.
The Midwest and South were tied for the region’s highest adult obesity rate at 34.1 percent each.
Meanwhile, the West and Northeast were at 29.3% and 28% respectively.
Obesity is known to be a risk factor for several chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, strokes, heart attacks, and even some types of cancer.
Only seven states had an obesity prevalence of 35% or more among white adults.
Asians were the ethnic group least likely to report high rates of obesity. Of the 35 states with sufficient data, 33 reported rates below 20% (above)
However, obese adults are also at increased risk for serious consequences from COVID-19, including severe cases, hospitalizations, and death.
A study on the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic found that obese people were twice as likely to be hospitalized as the state’s population.
This means obese people diagnosed with COVID-19 could put an even greater strain on already overwhelmed hospitals.
What’s more, a recent study from the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health found that obese adults infected with influenza are not only at greater risk for serious complications, but remain contagious for longer.
This means that obesity is linked to an increased risk of transmitting influenza. With 75 percent of American adults expected to be overweight or obese by 2030, it could result in the loss of thousands more lives to the flu or the coronavirus.
While it’s not clear why obese adults are more contagious, scientists believe obesity alters the body’s immune response and leads to chronic inflammation.
“Changing the current course of obesity will require a sustained and comprehensive effort from all parts of society,” the CDC authors wrote.
“We will need to recognize existing health disparities and inequalities and address social determinants of health such as poverty and lack of access to health care if we are to ensure health equity.
“These maps help by showing where we need to focus our efforts to prevent obesity and support people with this disease.”
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