The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has discovered a surge in obesity rates across the U.S., with some states reaching alarming levels.
New data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System found that in 22 states, at least 35 percent of adults were obese in 2022. This is a huge jump from the 19 states recorded in 2021. The increase is concerning given that a decade ago, there were no states with an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35 percent.
Louisiana, Oklahoma and West Virginia were the states with the highest rates in the list, with more than 40 percent of adults in those areas being obese.
The other 19 states with an adult obesity prevalence of 35 percent or higher include Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Certain groups more affected by obesity than others
There were some important race and ethnicity differences when the data were broken down further. Black adults commonly live in states with an adult obesity prevalence of 35 percent or higher. Native American adults followed in second place, while Hispanic adults landed in third.
White adults landed in fourth place, many of them living in states where obesity rates are kept at bay. Interestingly, there were no states or territories where Asian adults had an adult obesity prevalence of 35 percent or higher.
Age and education appeared to play a role; as education level increased, there was a decline in obesity prevalence.
Adults without a high school diploma or equivalent had the highest prevalence of obesity (37.6 percent), followed by adults with some college education (35.9 percent) or high school graduates (35.7 percent) and then by college graduates (27.2 percent). Adults ages 18-24 had the lowest prevalence of obesity (20.5 percent) compared with those ages 45-54, who had the highest prevalence (39.9 percent).
Addressing obesity
Like many chronic conditions, obesity is preventable with a healthy lifestyle. There are ways to address even mild obesity. (Related: Obesity Industrial Complex pushes junk food on children so they grow up to become pharmaceutical junkies.)
Follow a healthy diet
Try the following tips for a healthy diet.
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