Obesity Tops 35 Percent in 7 U.S. States

Americans continue to fatten up, with obesity rates topping 35 percent in seven states, a new report reveals.

That's up from five states two years ago. Moreover, no state had a notable improvement in its obesity rate over the previous year, according to the report from Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, both nonprofit health policy organizations.

"Obesity is a complex and often intractable problem, and America's obesity epidemic continues to have serious health and cost consequences for individuals, their families and our nation," said John Auerbach, president of Trust for America's Health.

"The good news is that there is growing evidence that certain prevention programs can reverse these trends. But we won't see meaningful declines in state and national obesity rates until they are implemented throughout the nation and receive sustained support," Auerbach said in a news release from his organization.

States with obesity rates of 35 percent or more now include Iowa and Oklahoma. The others are Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia.

The findings are based on 2017 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They represent a troubling trend, given that in 2012 no state had an obesity rate of 35 percent or more.

Now in every state, at least 1 in 5 adults is obese, according to the "State of Obesity" report.

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