How Does Your State Rank in Obesity?

According to a recent report, adult obesity has increased in 28 states in the past year. As of 2010, adult obesity rates are above 25% in 38 states. Nineteen years ago, no state had an obesity rate of 20%. The top ten states with the highest rates are in the South, with Mississippi ranking 1st with an adult obesity rate of 33.8%. Colorado ranks lowest for adult obesity with a rate of 19.1%.

As we all know obesity is linked to diabetes and hypertension. Again, the 10 states with the highest rates of diabetes and hypertension are in the South.  According to the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report, low income, race, ethnicity, and less education is associated with high obesity rates. 'This report shows that the country has taken bold steps to address the obesity crisis in recent years, but the nation's response has yet to fully match the magnitude of the problem,' says Jeffrey Levi, PhD, executive director of the TFAH.   

Top Eleven States with the highest adult obesity rates.
1. Mississippi                                          33.8%
2. Alabama and Tennessee (tie)             31.6%
4. West Virginia                                      31.3%
5. Louisiana                                            31.2%
6. Oklahoma                                           30.6%
7. Kentucky                                            30.5%
8. Arkansas                                            30.1%
9. South Carolina                                   29.9%                   
10. Michigan and North Carolina (tie)    29.4%

To see where your state ranks, visit WebMD.