Search articles from thousands of Examiners
Write for us
National Fitness and Weight Loss Extreme Weight Loss Examiner
Extreme Weight Loss Examiner

The fattest states of America: Where do you live?

June 15, 12:06 PMExtreme Weight Loss ExaminerMark Rubi
2 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe


Get alerts when there is a new article from the Extreme Weight Loss Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.
Email Address


  Include other special offers from Examiner.com
Terms of Use

fattest states in America, CDC, Body Mass Index, BMI, Obesity, overweight, Health and Human Services
All photos courtesy of HHS.gov

Where do you live? And what are the fattest states in America? Current theory about the overweight and obesity epidemic lists environment as one of the primary causes. This means that where you live can have a major impact on the size and shape of your body. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released their latest data on the fattest states in America. All statistics are from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is the primary, population wide, tool used for measuring weight related health in the United States. It uses a calculation based on height and weight to give researchers data. A healthy BMI in the US is one between 18.5 and 24.9. This group has the lowest mortality rate that is not accident related. A BMI ranging from 25 to 29.9 is considered to be overweight. Those with a BMI greater than 30 are considered to be medically obese, and those above with a BMI above 40 are considered to be morbidly obese. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute has an online BMI calculator so that you can find your own BMI.

fattest states in America, CDC, Body Mass Index, BMI, Obesity, overweight, Health and Human ServicesIncredibly, the CDC obesity and overweight numbers are considered to be pretty conservative. The federal government’s Weight-control Information Network says that “About two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight, and almost one-third are obese, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001 to 2004.”

There are three ways to determine the fattest states: Obesity rate, overweight but not yet obese rate, and fewest people at a health body weight. The first list seems to indicate that the obesity problem is centered in the Southern states and the Midwest. However, the overweight but not yet obese list shows the Northeastern states and the Western states are catching up and are poised to greatly increase their obesity numbers. The final list shows states where having a normal and healthy BMI would make you an ever shrinking minority.

 fattest states in America, CDC, Body Mass Index, BMI, Obesity, overweight, Health and Human Services

 

 

Adult Obesity Rate: The fattest states in America

#1    Mississippi      33.3%
#2    Alabama           32.2%
#3    West Virginia   31.9%
#4    Tennessee      31.2%
#5    Oklahoma        30.9%
#6    South Carolina 30.6%
#7    Kentucky            30.2%
#8    Arkansas           29.5% (tie)
#8    Michigan           29.5% (tie)
#8   North Carolina  29.5% (tie)
#11  Ohio                   29.2%
#12  Missouri            29.0%


Overweight but not yet obese adults:

#1   North Dakota    39.6%
#2   New Jersey       38.5%
#3   Alaska                38.4%
#4   Connecticut       38.3%
#5   New Hampshire 38.2%
#6   Rhode Island     37.9%
#7   Minnesota           37.6%
#8   Wisconsin          37.5% (tie)
#8   Iowa                     37.5% (tie)
#8   Kansas               37.5% (tie)
#11 Montana             37.4%
#12 Texas                  37.2%
#13 California           37.1%
#14 Idaho                  37.0%
#14 Nevada              37.0%


Fewest at normal weight:

#1   West Virginia    31.1%
#2   Alabama            32.0% (tie)
#2   Tennessee       32.0% (tie)
#4   Mississippi       32.5%
#5   Kentucky            33.2%
#6   Oklahoma         33.4%
#7   Texas                 33.8%
#8   South Carolina 34.1%
#9   North Carolina  34.2%
#10 Arkansas           34.3% (tie)
#10 Kansas              34.3% (tie)
#12 Missouri             34.4%
#13 Alaska                34.5%

 

For more info: It's your life. It's your health. It's your body. If your state is among those with the worst overweight percentages, contact your state and local representatives to find out what is being done to rectify that situation. On a personal level, good nutrition, body movement, and calorie moderation are the best ways to make sure you get or remain healthy.
© Mark Rubi, June 15, 2009

 

Comments

Name:


Comments:
characters left

NOTE: Do Not Alter These Fields:

Inside 'New Moon'
Get inside info on all things New Moon.
Robert Pattinson | Taylor Lautner

Recent Articles

Sunday, November 22, 2009
What's the skinny on the Kate Moss hullabaloo? You've probably read it by now. Kate Moss was quoted as saying "nothing tastes as good as skinny …
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Lessons in life from the movies Twilight and The Twilight Saga: New Moon. The fans of the books by author Stephanie Meyer have made the movie …

Things to see and do

New Jersey Nets at Denver Nuggets
24 Nov 2009 - 7 pm
Pepsi Center
More sports »
ICE: Direct From Russia
Riviera Hotel & Casino – Versailles Theatre