Research

Know where you stand among the increasing obesity rates!

Adult obesity rates increased in 28 states in the past year, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2010, a report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. More than two-thirds of states (38) have adult obesity rates above 25 percent. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent.

The report highlights troubling racial, ethnic, regional and income disparities in the nation's obesity epidemic. For instance, adult obesity rates for Blacks and Latinos were higher than for Whites in at least 40 states and the District of Columbia; 10 out of the 11 states with the highest rates of obesity were in the South -- with Mississippi weighing in with highest rates for all adults (33.8 percent) for the sixth year in a row; and 35.3 percent of adults earning less than $15,000 per year were obese compared with 24.5 percent of adults earning $50,000 or more per year.

"Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges the country has ever faced, and troubling disparities exist based on race, ethnicity, region, and income," said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH. "This report shows that the country has taken bold steps to address the obesity crisis in recent years, but the nation's response has yet to fully match the magnitude of the problem. Millions of Americans still face barriers - like the high cost of healthy foods and lack of access to safe places to be physically active - that make healthy choices challenging."

The report also includes obesity rates among youths ages 10-17, and the results of a new poll on childhood obesity conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and American Viewpoint. The poll shows that 80 percent of Americans recognize that childhood obesity is a significant and growing challenge for the country, and 50 percent of Americans believe childhood obesity is such an important issue that we need to invest more to prevent it immediately. The survey also found that 84 percent of parents believe their children are at a healthy weight, but research shows nearly one-third of children and teens are obese or overweight. Obesity rates among youths ages 10-17 from the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) also were included in the 2009 F as in Fat report. Data collection for the next NSCH will begin in 2011. Currently, more than 12 million children and adolescents are considered obese.

"Obesity rates among the current generation of young people are unacceptably high and a very serious problem," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., RWJF president and CEO. "To reverse this national epidemic, we have to make every community a healthy community. Americans are increasingly ready and willing to make that investment."

Additional key findings include:

Adult obesity rates for Blacks topped 40 percent in nine states, 35 percent in 34 states, and 30 percent in 43 states and D.C.
Rates of adult obesity for Latinos were above 35 percent in two states (North Dakota and Tennessee) and at 30 percent and above in 19 states.
Ten of the 11 states with the highest rates of diabetes are in the South, as are the 10 states with the highest rates of hypertension. No state had rates of adult obesity above 35 percent for Whites. Only one state-West Virginia-had an adult obesity rate for Whites greater than 30 percent.
The number of states where adult obesity rates exceed 30 percent doubled in the past year, from four to eight --Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Northeastern and Western states had the lowest adult obesity rates; Colorado remained the lowest at 19.1 percent.

The report found that the federal government and many states are undertaking a wide range of policy initiatives to address the obesity crisis. Some key findings include that:

At the federal level:

Here are a few suggestions on what you can do to address the obesity crisis and keep your family healthy:

Know where you stand! Body Mass Index (BMI) is a commonly used measure of body fatness based on height and weight. Calculate your BMI to determine whether your weight status is underweight, normal, overweight or obese. Based on the results, you may choose to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, which may reduce the risk of chronic diseases associated with overweight and obesity.
Get your kids involved in making healthy choices now. Let them help pack their lunches, shop for groceries and cook meals alongside you. You can even plant a garden and allow them to help you pick fresh vegetables and fruits.
Ensure your children are eating a healthy lunch. If their school is not serving healthy choices, get involved! Ask the principal and others to consider adding some healthy alternatives. In the meantime, watch the school menu closely and pack their lunches when needed.
Follow this advice for yourself! Pack your own lunch at least a few days per week. This will ensure you are getting great, healthy and program-friendly food!
Turn off the TV, computer and video games! Place more attention on exercising and being active. Children today watch more TV and spend more time on the computer than any other generation. Try starting a family hobby, such as playing tennis, riding bicycles, walking or swimming.
Set a positive example for your mate and kids! If you eat healthy foods and are physically active, there's a good chance your entire family will follow your lead!