Despite Efforts, America Remains Dangerously Overweight

Newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention depicts America with an enduring obesity problem. In twelve states more than 30% of the population is obese. No state has less than a 20% obesity rate.

1 minute read

August 15, 2012, 6:00 AM PDT

By Andrew Gorden


Newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilized new methodologies, making year-to-year comparisons of obesity rates difficult. Regardless, the data shows America's ongoing obesity problem. Tim Carman, of The Washington Post, reports on the new numbers: "no matter how you slice and dice the numbers, one thing remains clear: The nation is dreadfully overweight, which translates into billions of dollars a year in health-care costs, among other impacts [PDF]."

So, who tops the list? States in the South and Midwest dominate the top 10, with Mississippi and Louisiana leading with over 1/3 of the population obese. Colorado is the fittest state with a 20.7% obesity rate.

Monday, August 13, 2012 in The Washington Post

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