States with the Highest Obesity Rates

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by Cathy Arnst

States with the Highest Obesity Rates

Adult obesity rates increased significantly in 37 states since last year, and declined only in the District of Columbia, according to the 2008 edition of a survey issued annually by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. More than 20% of adults are obese in every state except Colorado. Overall, the rate of childhood obesity has tripled since 1980, from 6.5% to 16.3%. An estimated two-thirds of American adults are now overweight; if the current trends continue, 75% of U.S. adults will be overweight or obese in just seven years. A person is defined as obese if they have a body mass index (a function of height and weight) of 30 or higher—someone who is 5 ft. 8 in. and weighs 200 lb, for instance, has a BMI of 30.4.

The survey found various reasons for the increase in weight, such as a rise in inactivity, as well as rising health problems that are thought to be linked to obesity, including an increase in type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.

Following is a look at the 10 states with the highest obesity rates and the 10 states with the lowest rates.