How obese is your state?
According to the most recent government statistics, two thirds of Americans are now either overweight (BMI > 25) or obese (BMI > 30). In 1980, about 15% of adults were classified as obese but that number increased to 34% by 2008. So here are latest statistics on obesity broken down by States. Where does your State rank?
- Mississippi 33.8%
- Alabama 31.6%
- Tennessee 31.6%
- West Virginia 31.3%
- Louisiana 31.2%
- Oklahoma 30.6%
- Kentucky 30.5%
- Arkansas 30.1%
- South Carolina 29.9%
- North Carolina 29.4%
- Michigan 29.4%
- Missouri 29.3%
- Ohio 29.0%
- Texas 29.0%
- South Dakota 28.5%
- Kansas 28.2%
- Pennsylvania 28.1%
- Georgia 28.1%
- Indiana 28.1%
- Delaware 27.9%
- North Dakota 27.7%
- Iowa 27.6%
- Nebraska 27.3%
- Alaska 26.9%
- Wisconsin 26.9%
- Illinois 26.6%
- Maryland 26.6%
- Washington 26.3%
- Maine 25.8%
- Arizona 25.8%
- Nevada 25.6%
- Virginia 25.5%
- Minnesota 25.5%
- New Mexico 25.5%
- New Hampshire 25.4%
- New York 25.1%
- Florida 25.1%
- Idaho 25.1%
- Oregon 25.0%
- Wyoming 25.0%
- California 24.4%
- ew Jersey 23.9%
- Montana 23.5%
- Utah 23.2%
- Rhode Island 22.9%
- Vermont 22.8%
- Hawaii 22.6%
- Massachusetts 21.7%
- D.C. 21.5%
- Connecticut 21.4%
- Colorado 19.1%
It is interesting to see Mississippi top the list for the sixth year in the row. In fact, according to Adds Marion Nestle, a Professor of Nutrition, at Food Studies and Public health at New York University, “States with highest obesity rates are in rural south where poverty especially rural poverty is a huge problem. The states with lowest rates are in areas with lots of outdoor recreation areas but also where the population is better educated and wealthier.”
So the question is what can we do curb this epidemic. The answer is a complex one but here is my take on it.
- First, increase education on the benefits of exercise starting with our children.
- Second, add and improve physical education back in schools. Too many school are cutting back on exercise due to budget deficiencies.
- Add exercise to the workplace. Given incentives to employees for working out. Have friendly competitions like 10,000 steps a day program where people walking the most steps get a small prize for their department
- Regulate marketing of junk foods to kids
- Educated physicians on importance of exercise and encourage them to bring it up to their patients on every visit.
- Create inexpensive group exercise programs in communities for different age groups.
- Teach people simple ways to eat better
- There are so many so-called experts out there who have an opinion on every idea but all I have to say is that we need change. Change begins with us so I leave you with this incredible quote from Mahatma Gandhi, “be the change you want to see in the world.”
- Do you have an idea on how to change the epidemic, let me know and I will add it to this list. Let’s start the fitness revolution!
