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Tuesday, September 21st, 2021

Texas joins fast-growing list of states with highest adult obesity rates in country

Author:     Katie Camero
Source:     Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Publication Date:     SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 10:18 AM
 Link: Texas joins fast-growing list of states with highest adult obesity rates in country
Stephan:   Look at the map. Notice something? And consider this from the report. Generally, obesity prevalence declined as level of education increased. Adults without a high school degree had the highest self-reported obesity (about 39%). Adults with some college education or high school graduates (34%) came next, followed by college graduates (25%). An estimated 30% of COVID-19 hospitalizations have been attributed to obesity.

Nearly 36% of adult Texans reported having obesity in 2020, according to new federal data.

The state joins a fast-growing list of 15 others where adult obesity prevalence is at or above 35%. The number of such states has nearly doubled since 2018 — up from nine states in 2018 and 12 in 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

In addition to Texas, other states that recently reached the highest obesity prevalence are Delaware, Iowa and Ohio. Those join Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

The new data reveals disparities among people who have obesity; at least 35% of Hispanic residents in 22 states have obesity, with Michigan and Indiana sporting the highest rates; at least 35% of Black residents have obesity in 35 states and Washington, D.C., with California, Louisiana, Georgia and the Carolinas with some of the highest rates.

Every state and territory of the U.S. has more than 20% of adults with obesity, the CDC notes. It’s a staggering statistic given adults with […]

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