NutritionDoc

Mississippians have set a record, but it is not one residents of other states should envey. More than 30% of adults in Mississippi are obese.  But Mississippians are hardly alone in going up a few pants sizes. At least a quarter of the adults in 19 other states are obese. Southern states weighed in as the six heaviest - after Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana. South Carolina and Tennessee. Leading the leanest list was Colorado, with 17% obesity, followed by Massachusettts, Vermont, Connecticut, Hawaii and Rhode Island.

 

Obesity rates have increased significantly in 31 states over the past two years. One reason for the ever growing pressure on Americans' bathroom scales is that so many of us are couch potatoes.  22% of US adults say they do not engage in any physical activity.

 

Mississippi again had ther least active population with 31% never exercising; Minnesotans were the most likely to get off their duffs, with only 15% not exercising.

 

Our nation is in the middle of a public health crisis that is still deteriorating rapidly. Unfortunately, we are treating it like a mere inconvenience instead of the emergency that it is.