Discouraging news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Americans are more obese than ever.
Percent of Obese (BMI >
30) in U.S. Adults (CDC chart)
More than one in four American adults is not just overweight, but obese.
Nine states now have obesity rates of 30 percent or higher, and 33 states have obesity rates of 25 percent or higher.
Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. Overweight is considered a BMI of 25 and above. (Calculate your BMI.)
For comparison, back in 2000 no states had an obesity rate above 30 percent.
States with the highest obesity rates were Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Who fared better? Colorado at 18.6 percent (see that lone patch of blue in the map above), followed by the District of Columbia (19.7%), Connecticut (20.6%), Massachusetts (21.4%), and Hawaii (22.3%).
Overall rates were lower among young adults 18-29 (20.3%), college grads (20.8%), adults in the Northeast (24.3%) and West (24.4%), and non-Hispanic Whites (25.2%).
See where your state falls: www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html
Read the CDC report: Vital Signs: State-Specific Obesity Prevalence Among Adults -- United States, 2009
Then go take a hike, walk, or run outside. Bring along a friend, neighbor, or co-worker. It won't solve the obesity epidemic alone, but it's a start.
Have suggestions for countering this daunting and complex trend? Share them below.