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Colorado gets an A in “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future,” a new report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. According to “F as in Fat,” 38 states have adult obesity rates above 25 percent — when in 1991, no state rated over 20 percent.
But Colorado again ranks as the least obese state in the country, with an adult rate of 19.1 percent. And repeating its win of last year, Mississippi is the big loser, with 33.8 percent of its adult population weighing in as obese.
The report goes on to break down the numbers not just by state, but by racial and economic categories.
“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, executive director of TFAH, in the foundation’s announcement of the results. “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.”
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