In 2000, no state in the United States had 30% of the population listed as obese.  In 2007, there were three states with 30% obesity.  Now, in 201o, there are nine states with 30% of their population listed as obese.  Leading the way is Mississippi, with a staggering 34% of the population listed as obese.  Mississippi is one of 39 states which saw an increase in obesity rates.  There are an estimated 75 million Americans who are considered obese, according to the CDC.

Taken into consideration, the two states with the lowest obesity rates are Colorado, thanks to its high atmosphere and outdoorsy culture, and Washington, D.C., which makes absolutely no sense.  Obesity is calculated via the BMI; a BMI under 25 is considered normal; a BMI above 30 is considered obese.  Technically a 6-foot-tall man who weighs 185 pounds is overweight, which is just staggering to me considering how hard I had to work to drop weight to 185 at 6’1.

“This is a call to action for the nation,” says CDC branch chief for obesity prevention Heidi Blanck.  “It took over a decade for smoking prevention efforts to take effect.  We’re still in our infancy on diet and exercise.”  While that means things will get worse before they get better; at least it means they’re getting better in the future.  Hopefully.

Tags: obesity, public health, nine states have 30% obesity rates, fattest states in the US, thinnest states in the US, health, overweight, fattest states, fat population, unhealthy people, Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Heidi Blanck, medical news

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