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Mississippi is the fattest state in America, with two in five adults who are obese or morbidly obese, a report revealed Tuesday amid mounting warnings about the state’s health.
Telephone surveys of more than 400,000 people across the country showed that the state of Magnolia had the highest obesity rates, followed by West Virginia and neighboring Alabama.
At the other end of the scale, people in Colorado, Massachusetts and Hawaii were the least obese – less than a quarter of adults fell into this category.
Experts blamed poor diet, less access to public spaces to exercise, and low health insurance coverage for the obesity crisis in some areas — particularly Mississippi.
The numbers come from a report by NiceRx — an online pharmacy — and are based on numbers collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 2020.
America is the fattest country in the western world with an estimated 40 percent of people – or 138 million – who are obese. It is followed by New Zealand (30 percent), Canada (29.4 percent) and Australia (29 percent).
President Joe Biden will announce his plans to tackle obesity in September and has already set goals to improve physical activity and reduce diet-related diseases — like type 2 diabetes — nationally.
The map above shows the percentage of obese people by state. The highest obesity rates were recorded in Mississippi, West Virginia and Alabama – while the lowest rates were recorded in Colorado and Massachusetts. It comes from a report by drug company NiceRx and is based on figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
NiceRx’s report used numbers from surveys conducted by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which monitors health trends nationally.
It is based on self-reporting by individuals as being overweight or obese, suggesting the figures may underestimate the true state of the crisis at the national level.
The report’s authors suggested that states with the highest obesity rates are not “paying attention to the physical and mental well-being” of their residents.
Mississippi had the highest obesity rates nationwide, but the report’s authors also found that in 20 states, more than a third of adults were obese.
These include: West Virginia (39.7 percent), Alabama (39.1), Louisiana (38.1), Indiana (36.8), Kentucky (36.6), Delaware (36.5), Iowa (36 .5), Arkansas (36.4), Oklahoma (36.4), South Carolina (36.2), Texas (35.8), Tennessee (35.6), Ohio (35.5), Kansas (35 .3), Michigan (35.2), Georgia (34.3), Missouri (34), Nebraska (34), North Carolina (33.6).
On the other hand, only Colorado (24.2), Massachusetts (24.4) and Hawaii (24.5) have less than a quarter of their population classified as obese.
For comparison, it is estimated that around 13 percent of adults worldwide are obese.
Doctors say obesity is triggered by eating more calories than are burned in a day, typically fatty and sugary foods. It is becoming a bigger problem in modern life due to a more sedentary lifestyle.
They say people who are overweight are at risk of common health problems, including shortness of breath, frequent feelings of tiredness, joint and back pain, low self-esteem and feelings of isolation.
It can also lead to more serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, reduced fertility, and heart disease.
British doctors say that obese people typically live about three to 10 years less than people of a healthy weight.
dr Kathy Knight, a registered dietitian and associate professor at Mississippi University, previously said her state may have such high obesity rates because it’s “very rural.”
“That’s not enough for many public practice sites. There aren’t many sidewalks and most Southerners are still skeptical about bike lanes,” she said in a statement.
Knight added that the state also has food deserts — entire areas where there are few stores selling fresh food but lots of processed and high-carb items.
Earlier this month, the White House announced that it would hold a conference on hunger, nutrition and health this September for the first time in 50 years.
The press release said it will aim to find ways to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and reduce diet-related diseases across the country. The current government aims to end this by 2030.
Susan Rice, domestic policy adviser and former secretary of state, said: “Hunger, diet-related diseases and their associated inequalities are affecting millions of Americans, and the Covid pandemic is highlighting the urgency to address these issues.
“Nobody should have to wonder where their next meal is going to come from.
“We must take bold steps now — with government, the private sector, nonprofits and communities working together — to build a healthier future for every American.”
