FLORIDA — Florida’s obesity rate is 26.6%, making the Sunshine State the 32nd most obese state in the U.S. Twelve states currently have an adult obesity rate above 30 percent, according to a new analysis released today by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
The analysis used the state obesity rates made available today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mississippi had the highest rate of obesity at 34.9 percent, while Colorado had the lowest rate at 20.7 percent. Twenty-six of the 30 states with the highest obesity rates are in the Midwest and South.
“Obesity has contributed to a stunning rise in chronic disease rates and health care costs. It is one of the biggest health crises the country has ever faced,” said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, TFAH executive director. “The good news is that we have a growing body of evidence and approaches that we know can help reduce obesity, improve nutrition and increase physical activity based on making healthier choices easier for Americans. The bad news is we’re not investing anywhere near what we need to in order to bend the obesity curve and see the returns in terms of health and savings.”
According to the newly released CDC data, part of the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, the obesity rates by state from highest to lowest were:
1. Mississippi (34.9%)
2. Louisiana (33.4%)
3. West Virginia (32.4%)
4. Alabama (32.0%)
5. Michigan (31.3%)
6. Oklahoma (31.1%)
7. Arkansas (30.9%)
8. (tie) Indiana (30.8%); and South Carolina (30.8%)
10. (tie) Kentucky (30.4%); and Texas (30.4%)
12. Missouri (30.3%)
13. (tie) Kansas (29.6%); and Ohio (29.6%)
15. (tie) Tennessee (29.2%); and Virginia (29.2%)
17. North Carolina (29.1%)
18. Iowa (29.0%)
19. Delaware (28.8%)
20. Pennsylvania (28.6%)
21. Nebraska (28.4%)
22. Maryland (28.3%)
23. South Dakota (28.1%)
24. Georgia (28.0%)
25. (tie) Maine (27.8%); and North Dakota (27.8%)
27. Wisconsin (27.7%)
28. Alaska (27.4%)
29. Illinois (27.1%)
30. Idaho (27.0%)
31. Oregon (26.7%)
32. Florida (26.6%)
33. Washington (26.5%)
34. New Mexico (26.3%)
35. New Hampshire (26.2%)
36. Minnesota (25.7%)
37. (tie) Rhode Island (25.4%) and Vermont (25.4%)
39. Wyoming (25.0%)
40. Arizona (24.7%)
41. Montana (24.6%)
42. (tie) Connecticut (24.5%); Nevada (24.5%) and New York (24.5%)
45. Utah (24.4%)
46. California (23.8%)
47. (tie) District of Columbia (23.7%); and New Jersey (23.7%);
49. Massachusetts (22.7%)
50. Hawaii (21.8%)
51. Colorado (20.7%) SOURCE Trust for America’s Health