U.S. Obesity Rates Plateau

Is the United States finally inching toward a win against obesity? Last month it was reported that the U.S. had lost the not-so-coveted title of most obese country in the Americas (see September Making News). A new study shows that, after three decades of increases, obesity rates appear to have plateaued.

The F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2013 report, produced by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Trust for America’s Health, found that based on the latest available data, obesity rates remained level in every state except Arkansas. There is still a long way to go, however. Here are some other highlights from the report:

• Thirteen states have obesity rates above 30%.
• Forty-one states have obesity rates above 25%.
• Louisiana is the most obese state, at 34.7%.
• Colorado boasts the lowest obesity rate, at 20.5%.
• Every state has an obesity rate above 20%.
• Baby Boomers have the highest obesity rates; young adults (aged 18-25) have the lowest.
• Male obesity rates are climbing more rapidly than female rates.

To download and read the full report, visit www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/reports/2013/rwjf407528.