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While obesity rates in California, Maryland and Virginia are not as bad as they are in other states, they are worse than before. And this is also the case for all other states in the country.
While obesity rates in California, Maryland and Virginia are not as bad as they are in other states, they are worse than before. And this is the case for all other states in the country.
New report released Thursday by non-profit organization Trust For America's Health reveals nearly 31% of Americans – more than 100 million people – are obese, with obesity rates in some states rising sharply in recent years years.
Nearly 31% of Maryland residents (30.9%) and slightly more than 30% of Virginia residents (30.4%) are considered obese, which is about the national average. The obesity rate in California is just under 25%, which "looks good compared to the rest of the country, but it is much higher than before," said John Auerbach, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trust For America's Health.
At the national level, D.C., which was part of the state-by-state comparison, ranked 50th out of 51. Maryland was 25th tied with Pennsylvania and Virginia tied with Maine at 28th.
"If we look a few years ago, the percentages were significantly lower" in California, Maryland and Virginia, said Auerbach.
The latest figures from 2015-2016 show that nine states have obesity rates of at least 35% and two others record 34.8% registration rates. West Virginia has an obesity rate of 39.5% and is tied with the Mississippi for the country's highest obesity rate. In 2012, there was not a single state with a rate as high as 35%.
Significant racial and economic disparities are observed in the report, based on 2015-2016 data and the most recent information available. He finds that almost half of all black and Latin American adults are obese nationwide. This compares to a white obesity rate of 37.9% and 12.7% among Asians. Higher poverty rates also tend to be correlated with higher rates of obesity.
"The nation is getting bigger," said Auerbach. "The main concern here … is the medical implications of that. Because we know that when someone is obese, it presents a much higher risk of developing a wide variety of health problems: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, as well as an impact on the knees and the hip. We are very concerned that this level of obesity translates into preventable diseases, injuries and deaths. "
what are the solutions?
Being smarter about dieting and exercise are the best ways to lose weight individually.
But Auerbach said local governments could take steps to help push people in the right direction, based on the results of two unconnected, published studies released earlier this year.
"One of them has reviewed the Women, Babies and Children program and the WIC program," which is part of the supplemental nutrition program, Auerbach said. "This showed that this program was an effective program to reduce childhood obesity."
"A number of studies this year have also demonstrated that the relatively new approach of taxing sweetened beverages was an effective approach to reducing soda consumption, a major factor contributing to obesity."
Auerbach said that expanding the WIC program and taxing sugary drinks at a wider level could have a bigger impact. But he also added that making neighborhoods more pedestrian and cycling can have a positive impact.
Top 10 states with the highest rates of obesity
(Bound) Mississippi and West Virginia – 39.5%
3. Arkansas – 37.1%
4. Louisiana – 36.8%
5. Kentucky – 36.6%
6. Alabama – 36.2%
7. Iowa – 35.3%
8. North Dakota – 35.1%
9. Missouri – 35%
Oklahoma and Texas (tied) – 34.8%
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