The Trust For America's Health compiles a report every year, detailing how our nation's obesity policies are failing. The report, titled F as in Fat, doesn't mince words, but it does break down the rates of obesity by state.
For the fifth year in a row, Mississippi has the unfortunate distinction of topping the list with 32.5 percent of its adult population considered obese. The magnolia state also ranks number one for childhood weight woes; just over 44 percent of the population of 10- to 17-year-olds are considered overweight or obese.
This report does much more than finger-point; it examines state and federal policy and how it relates to the obesity epidemic. It looks at the relationship between obesity and the economy — cheap food is often unhealthy. There is even a section on how Summer break affects childhood obesity, titled "The Summer Slide." The report also makes recommendations for policy reform, changes in infrastructure (more sidewalks and bike paths, for one), and personal responsibility. You can find the entire 108-page report online in PDF format.
See how your state ranked.
States with the same percentage are listed together.
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. Arkansas and Ohio: 28.6%
11. North Carolina: 28.3%
12. Missouri: 28.1%
13. Georgia and Texas: 27.9%
14. Indiana: 27.4%
15. Delaware: 27.3%
16. Alaska and Kansas: 27.2%
17. Nebraska and South Dakota: 26.9%
18. Iowa, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania: 26.7%
19. Maryland and Wisconsin: 26.0%
20. Illinois: 25.9%
21. Oregon, Virginia, and Washington: 25.4%
22. Minnesota: 25.3%
23. Nevada: 25.1%
24. Arizona and Idaho: 24.8%
25. Maine: 24.7%
26. New Mexico: 24.6%
27. New York: 24.5%
28. Wyoming: 24.3%
29. Florida and New Hampshire: 24.1%
30. California: 23.6%
31. New Jersey: 23.4%
32. Montana: 22.7%
33. Utah: 22.5%
34. Washington, DC: 22.3%
35. Vermont: 22.1%
36. Hawaii: 21.8%
37. Rhode Island: 21.7%
38. Connecticut: 21.3%
39. Massachusetts: 21.2%
40. Colorado: 18.9%
So how did your state fare?
Marc by Marc Jacobs
Lowie
Jimmy Choo
Where I live now, Florida, is 29... Where I lived the first 18 years of my life is 31... not too bad, really. I find many people in NJ to be quite fit. Where I grew up, many people were overly-superficial so they were all insanely fit or stick thin... in Florida... i notice either malnourished homeless people or heavily overweight people mostly... hmmm.
1Mass is #39, makes sense, its part of the culture here to just walk everywhere. Boston particularly is small enough that public trans isn't necessary on a nice day, also people take sports here seriously.
i'm really happy that this report also suggests policy changes, I know if we didn't have bike paths, sidewalks, accessible parks, farmes' markets etc in Boston, I wouldn't get as much exercise as I do now or eat as well as I do.
2MI= #9 its a shame. In West MI we aren't that bad, however, the obesity rate would go down SO MUCH everywhere if only fast food and junky packaged crap were more pricey than fruits and eggies. I mean really, you can get 2 cucumbers for about 150 and a supersize bag of cheetos or lays for the same price
3Colorado at #40 with 18.9% and on top of that I live in one of the fitter cities in the state. A lot of top level athletes around at any given time. I however am not one of them
4I live in Boston and grew up in Connecticut and not surprised that both are at the bottom of the list. I grew up exercising, playing sports, eating well and I think it's part of the culture here in the Northeast.
5I am sorry, but that just makes me sick. I read through the state-by-state article for Missouri, which is #12, and it mentioned some statistics that make me kind of sad/embarrassed to be a part of this population: "Adult obesity rates now exceed 25 percent in 31 states and exceed 20 percent in 49 states and Washington, D.C. Two-thirds of American adults are either obese or overweight. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent. In 1980, the national average for adult obesity was 15 percent. Sixteen states experienced an increase for the second year in a row, and 11 states experienced an increase for the third straight year." Don't even get me started about the obesity rate in children.
620 - IL. I'm surprised that it's not higher. I've been living in Chicago over the past two years and the amount of obese people I have seen is incredible. Maybe this is just limited to the city because elsewhere in the state I rarely see an obese person. Anyway, I'm so surprised at how the obesity rate in this country has just skyrocketed over a short period of time.
7The title of the study is incorrect. It should be "F as in Fat".
8NY isn't that high on the list which doesn't surprise me but I don't really know the statistics for the whole state so I wasn't so sure about where on the list it would be. Especially since I've only ever been in NY city and the outer suburbs.
9#7 - I live in IL right now as well - before this I was living in Boston, MA and am originally from NY - there are soooo many obese/fat people here - its like they are giving away free gastric bypasses everyday. I am 3 hrs south of Chicago - Peoria. Chicago is superfit compared to the rest of the state. When I first moved here I was shocked - still am everyday AND I work at a GYM. At least people are working out here if they are over weight but- going to walmart from groceries digusts me. You should see what people have in their shopping carts. ITs like have you EVER heard of FRUITS AND VEGGIES??
10#39, woohoo!
11I have a hard time seeing how federal and state policy has an impact, except for maybe on kids and the amount of PE they get in school. When I put on ten pounds, it's pretty much a problem between me, my refrigerator, and my treadmill. You can't legislate away the culture of Southern food in Mississippi just like you can't legislate the active, outdoorsy culture of Colorado.
12I grew up in Mississippi, and I'm not surprised. Everything there is fried......everything. Once it's fried, it's dipped in something that isn't good for you either. It's nice to be out of there.
13So it is obvious that what we are doing about obesity is not working. But where is the new thinking? If we keep doing the same old, we will keep getting the same old result.
Diets just do not work. They are more likely to make you fatter in the long term. Isn't that proven in these figures? I firmly believe that we should never ever diet.
It is not about what goes into your mouth. The problem is what is going on in our heads. There are easy ways to teach your body to want to be slim. Dieting is not one of them.
Love
14Marie
Wow, Wisconsin's number 19, which surprised me because I figured it'd be higher than that. Most people I see in my city anyway are overweight or obese. I think if you average in the Madison crowd you bring the average down a bit because Madison is a lot more health-conscious than the rest of our beer-drinking, brat-loving state.
15Florida doesn't look too good. Around here it's a lot of heavy. Obesity too. Here if you go around the corner to a grocery store maybe more than half are overweight, not obese, but packing on a few pounds for sure. Even with the good weather and the beaches people are heavy here. We have a city of over one million people there's only a handful of distant parks for biking. The main roads do not have biking lanes, or sidewalks. If you're lucky you have a pool to swim in, or forget it. In the summer the heat index goes up to 110 and no one cares to be out in that. If you run you have to find a safe area and then wait until after 6 pm for the heat to simmer down. Going for a pleasant walk here means waiting until Halloween.
16Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.