Obesity in the United States

 Obesity has been cited as a major and increasing health issue in the United States in recent decades. While many industrialized countries have experienced similar increases, American obesity rates lead the world with 64% of adults being overweight and almost a quarter being obese.^[1] Estimates of the number of American adults who were obese rose from 23.7% in 2003 to 24.5% in 2005. In addition, 16% of active duty U.S. military personnel are obese, and it is currently the largest single cause for the discharge of soldiers.^[2] The economic cost attributable to obesity in the United States has been estimated to be as high as $100 billion/yr.^[3]

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Schools

Due to new laws concerning obesity, the U.S. has seen an increasing trend of schools sweeping sodas, junk foods, and candy from snack and vending machines and cafeterias. Obesity has become recognized as a major disease in the United States since the mid-1980s. As a result of a bill signed into law by California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to eliminate junk foods, candies, and sodas from cafeterias and vending machines, starting July 1, 2009 all California public high schools will be filtering out soda machines leaving water, juice and sports drink machines. ^[4] Although now many high schools in California have eliminated soda machines, some schools still have them; however, no more than 45 percent of schools have soda machines. At the same time, the snack machines will eliminate many candies, replacing them with peanuts, fruit pops, and items that will be healthier for pupils. California public middle schools and elementary grade levels banned soda and candy sales beginning in July 2005 for all schools; and most schools one and a half years before. ^[5]

Obesity by State

The following is a state-by-state survey conducted by the CDC^[6]:

Alabama: 28.9% obese, rank: 2

Alaska: 27.5% obese, rank: 15

Arizona: 21.1% obese, rank: 43

Arkansas: 28.0% obese, rank: 7

California: 22.7% obese, rank: 30

Colorado: 17.8% obese, rank: 51 (least obese)

Connecticut: 20.1% obese, rank: 46

Delaware: 23.5% obese, rank: 29

District of Columbia: 21.7% obese, rank: 39

Florida: 22.8% obese, rank: 35

Georgia: 26.5% obese, rank: 12

Hawaii: 19.7% obese, rank: 50

Idaho: 24.5% obese, rank: 31

Illinois: 25.0% obese, rank: 23

Indiana: 27.2% obese, rank: 8

Iowa: 25.4% obese, rank: 21

Kansas: 23.9% obese, rank: 26

Kentucky: 28.6% obese, rank: 5

Louisiana: 30.8% obese, rank: 4

Maine: 22.7% obese, rank: 34

Maryland: 24.4% obese, rank: 24

Massachusetts: 20.7% obese, rank: 49

Michigan: 26.2% obese, rank: 11

Minnesota: 23.7% obese, rank: 27

Mississippi: 30.9% obese, rank: 1 (most obese)

Missouri: 26.9% obese, rank: 14

Montana: 21.3% obese, rank: 45

Nebraska: 26.0% obese, rank: 20

Nevada: 20.7% obese, rank: 42

New Hampshire: 23.1% obese, rank: 36

New Jersey: 22.1% obese, rank: 40

New Mexico: 21.8% obese, rank: 41

New York: 22.2% obese, rank: 36

North Carolina: 25.9% obese, rank: 17

North Dakota: 25.4% obese, rank: 18

Ohio: 24.5% obese, rank: 15

Oklahoma: 26.9% obese, rank: 13

Oregon: 23.8% obese, rank: 33

Pennsylvania: 25.3% obese, rank: 19

Rhode Island: 21.0% obese, rank: 47

South Carolina: 29.1% obese, rank: 8

South Dakota: 25.5% (obese, rank: 22

Tennessee: 27.4% obese, rank: 6

Texas: 27.0% obese, rank: 10

Utah: 21.2% obese, rank: 43

Vermont: 20.2% obese, rank: 47

Virginia: 25.1% obese, rank: 25

Washington: 23.3% obese, rank: 31

West Virginia: 30.6% obese, rank: 3

Wisconsin: 24.4% obese, rank: 28

Wyoming: 24.2% obese, rank: 36

Colorado has the leanest and healthiest Americans with only 17.8% obesity, while Mississippi tops out as the state with the most massive Americans, with 30.9%.

References