Obesity continues to rise in the United States, with rates now exceeding 35 percent in five states, compared to four states in the previous year. But there are signs that adult rates are leveling off, says the annual State of Obesity report. Rates are holding steady in more states and for the second year in a row, at least one state showed a decline.
Adult obesity declined in Kansas to 31.2 percent, a drop of 3 points, according to the report, which was based on 2016 data collected by the CDC. In the previous report, Minnesota, Montana, New York and Ohio posted declines – the first in a decade that any state showed a decrease; the District of Columbia’s rate fell in 2010.
“It’s clear that the progress we’ve made in fighting obesity is fragile – and that we’re at a critical juncture where continuation of the policies that show promise and increased support and resources could truly help bend the rising tide of obesity rates,” said John Auerbach, chief executive of the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH). It produced the report in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
Obesity puts millions of Americans at risk of chronic disease, such as diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis, heart disease and some types of cancer, says the CDC. Medical care for obesity costs an estimated $147 billion a year. The CDC says 36.5 percent of adults and 17 percent of children are obese.
State of Obesity said recent national data showed “childhood obesity rates have stabilized at 17 percent over the past decade. Rates are declining among 2- to 5-year-olds, stable among 6- to 11-year-olds, and increasing among 12- to 19-year-olds.”
The TFAH and RWJF said “to accelerate progress in addressing obesity,” the government should implement the healthier school meal standards of the 2010 child nutrition law, “invest” in food stamps, go ahead with menu labeling and the new Nutrtition Fact label on food packages, continue Medicaid and Medicare coverage of obesity treatment and prevention, and prioritize childhold programs such as Head Start.
Lawmakers have delayed parts of the school meal reforms dealing with salt and whole grains. The Trump administration has delayed the start of menu labeling and use of the updated Nutrition Facts label. It also proposed a 25 percent cut in food stamp spending.
The five states with the highest adult obesity rates are West Virginia, 37.7 percent; Mississippi, 37.3 percent; Alabama and Arkansas, 35.5 percent; and Louisiana, 35.5 percent. Arkansas is the newcomer to the list of states with rates above 35 percent.
Colorado had the lowest obesity rate, 22.3 percent, but in a sign of rising obesity, that was an increase from 20.2 percent in the preceding report. The new report said rates were stable in 45 states vs. 44 states in the previous year.