Key takeaways
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Obesity is increasing throughout the United States. In 22 states, 35% or more of adults were obese last year, new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. Just 10 years ago, there were no states with obesity rates. obesity equal to or greater than 35%.
"Our updated maps send a clear message that additional support for obesity prevention and treatment is an urgent priority," said Dr. Karen Hacker, director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. from the CDC.
The 22 states with an adult obesity prevalence of 35% or greater are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Carolina South, South Dakota. , Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
The CDC said the 2022 maps underscore the need to ensure that all people have access to healthy foods, safe places for physical activity, and stigma-free obesity prevention and treatment programs. He also called for access to proven medications and weight-loss surgery.
"Obesity is a disease caused by many factors, including eating patterns, physical activity levels, sleep routines, genetics, and certain medications," Hacker said in a CDC news release. "This means there is no one-size-fits-all approach. However, we know that key strategies that work include addressing the underlying social determinants of health, such as access to health care, healthy and affordable foods, and places safe for physical activity.
Some groups are more likely to be affected than others, CDC data shows.
Among geographic groups with sufficient data for comparison, the number of states with an adult obesity prevalence of 35% or greater was 38 states for black adults; 33 states for American Indians or Alaska Natives; 14 states for whites and no states for Asian American adults.
Obesity increases the risk of many serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers, as well as serious outcomes from COVID-19 and poor mental health. It also carries a lot of stigma for people with these higher weights.
CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity has a variety of strategies to help improve health and prevent chronic diseases, and to help racial and ethnic populations at higher risk for chronic diseases.
These include nutrition and food service guidelines, vouchers for fruits and vegetables and produce recipes, safe and accessible family physical activity programs, and breastfeeding support.
Source : US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
