South rises again--to top of nation's obesity rankings

South rises again--to top of nation's obesity rankings
By Thomas H. Maugh II
Tribune Newspapers: Los Angeles Times
Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune
Published August 30, 2006


The United States continues to get fatter, with Mississippi and other Southern states leading the way, according to a report issued Tuesday by the advocacy group Trust for America's Health.

The report found 29.5 percent of Mississippi residents were obese. Nine of the 10 states with the highest rates of obesity were in the South, according to the report.

At the other end of the spectrum, Colorado was the leanest state, with only 16.9 percent of its residents obese--still above federal guidelines, which call for a maximum obesity rate of 15 percent.

Illinois had an obesity rate of 23.9 percent. It ranked 23rd on the group's list, based on data from 2003-05.

"Obesity now exceeds 25 percent in 13 states, which should sound some serious alarm bells," said Dr. Jeff Levi, executive director of the trust. "Quick fixes and limited government programs have failed to stem the tide."

The states with the highest rates of obesity are also those with the highest rates of hypertension and diabetes, which typically are associated with fat. The economic costs are "devastating," Levi said. At least 27 percent of health-care costs in the United States are a result of obesity and lack of physical activity, he said.

No one knows why obesity is so prevalent in the South, he said. Experts typically attribute it to poverty, cultural factors and differences in diet across the region.

Obesity is measured as a function of the body mass index, or BMI, a ratio calculated from weight and height. A person with a BMI higher than 30 is generally considered obese. An individual who is 6 feet tall and weighs 230 pounds, for example, has a BMI of 31.

The data were compiled by the federal government's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which collects self-reported health data through telephone interviews.

As a result, the data probably underestimate the true extent of obesity, Levi said. Generally, women tend to understate their weight while men overstate their height, both of which lead to lower BMIs.

The report is available online at healthyamericans.org.