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A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the rate of adult obesity in Georgia is about average among states, but the figure remains surprisingly high.
Nearly one in three in the state is obese. The overall rate of 31.6% for 2017 in Georgia is slightly higher than the rate of 30.5% recorded in 2014. This is a rate that has increased steadily, both here and at the national level.
And African-Americans in Georgia have an even higher rate of obesity, a situation that also prevails at the national level.
The CDC report also found that the South (32.4%) and the Midwest (32.3%) had the highest prevalence of obesity, followed by the Northeast (27.7%) and the West (26.1%). The national average rate is 30.1%.
Some other southern states scored lower than Georgia, which has the 24th highest rate of obesity.
In 2017, seven states reported a prevalence of adult obesity greater than or equal to 35%: Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, the United States. Oklahoma and West Virginia. Five years ago, the prevalence of obesity in all states was less than 35%, reported the CDC.
"The trend has continued for years," said Christian Lemmon, clinical psychologist at the Medical College of Georgia, University of Augusta, an expert on eating disorders and bariatric surgery. "This is very disturbing and disturbing."
The data comes from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a state-based telephone survey conducted by CDCs and state health departments. Size and weight data are self-reported.
General increases occur despite increased attention to the problem. Nutrition labels have become commonplace, schools are serving healthier foods and some communities are developing more parks and green spaces. In addition, the consumption of sugary drinks has been reduced.
Still, several factors are causing the increase in obesity rates, Lemmon said. This includes education gaps, lower socio-economic status, and health disparities. In addition, there are genetic and biological influences on children from obese parents, as well as behavioral influences.
Some neighborhoods lack food stores, so low-income families often buy inexpensive but unhealthy food.
More sedentary lifestyles, constant use of television and computers can reduce exercise, says Lemmon.
"African-American children are more affected by these factors and barriers," he added.
Adults with obesity are at increased risk for many serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Children with obesity are more likely to become adults with obesity. Obesity costs more than $ 147 billion a year to the US health care system.
Last year, the prevalence of obesity ranged from 22.6% in Colorado to 38.1% in West Virginia.
Nationally, adults without a high school diploma had the highest prevalence of obesity at 35.6%, followed by high school graduates (32.9%) and high school seniors. adults with some colleges (31.9%). College graduates had the lowest prevalence of obesity (22.7%).
By including Georgia, 31 states had obesity rates of 35% or more among non-Hispanic black adults, according to the report.
Adults with a "body mass index" of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight, while individuals with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese.
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