New Report: «state» is «ob_rank_cap» Obese State in Nation

Obesity Rates Remain High but Hold Steady «h2» Nation, Only Arkansas Sees Increase

Washington, D.C., August 15, 2013 –«state» is now the «ob_rank_lower» obese state in the nation, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2013, a report from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

After three decades of increases, adult obesity rates remained level in every state except for one, Arkansas, in the past year.

However, rates remain high—«state»’s adult obesity rate is «ob_percent» and 13 states have adult obesity rates above 30 percent, 41 states have rates of at least 25 percent, and every state is above 20 percent, according to the report. In 1980, no state was above 15 percent; in 1991, no state was above 20 percent; in 2000, no state was above 25 percent; and, in 2007, only Mississippi was above 30 percent.*

Since 2005, there has been some evidence that the rate of increase has been slowing. In 2005, every state but one experienced an increase in obesity rates; in 2008, rates increased in 37 states; in 2010, rates increased in 28 states; and in 2011, rates increased in 16 states.*

“While stable rates of adult obesity may signal prevention efforts are starting to yield some results, the rates remain extremely high,” said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH. “Even if the nation holds steady at the current rates, Baby Boomers—who are aging into obesity-related illnesses—and the rapidly rising numbers of extremely obese Americans are already translating into a cost crisis for the healthcare system and Medicare.”

Levi added, “In order to decrease obesity and related costs, we must ensure that policies at every level support healthy choices, and we must focus investments on prevention.”

Key findings from the 2013 F as in Fat report include:

• Rates vary by region. Of the states with the 20 highest adult obesity rates, only Pennsylvania is not in the South or Midwest. For the first time in eight years, Mississippi no longer has the highest rate—Louisiana at 34.7 percent is the highest, followed closely by Mississippi at 34.6 percent. Colorado had the lowest rate at 20.5 percent.
• Rates vary by age. «state»’s obesity rate for Baby Boomers (45-to 64-year-olds)** is «boomer_rate» and, nationally, rates for Boomers have reached 40 percent in two states (Alabama and Louisiana) and are 30 percent or higher in 41 states. By comparison, the obesity rate for seniors (65+ years old) in «state» is «obese_65» and rates exceed 30 percent in only one state (Louisiana). The young adult (18-to 25-year-olds) obesity rate in «state» is «obese_18» and rates are below 28 percent in every state.
• Rates by gender are now consistent. Ten years ago, there was nearly a 6 percentage point difference between rates for men and women (men: 27.5 percent, women: 33.4 percent), and now rates are nearly the same (men: 35.8 percent, women 35.5 percent). Men’s obesity rates have been climbing faster than women’s for this last decade. «state»’s obesity rate is «men» for men and «women» for women.
• Rates of “extreme” obesity have grown dramatically. Rates of adult Americans with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher have grown in the past 30 years from 1.4 percent to 6.3 percent—a 350 percent increase. Among children and teens (2-to 19-year-olds), more than 5.1 percent of males and 4.7 percent of females are now severely obese.
• Rates vary by education. More than 35 percent of adults ages 26 and older who did not graduate high school are obese, compared with 21.3 percent of those who graduated from college or technical college.
• Rates vary by income. More than 31 percent of adults ages 18 and older who earn less than $25,000 per year were obese, compared with 25.4 percent of those who earn at least $50,000 per year.

In addition to the latest data showing a stable rate for adult obesity, a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier this month shows 18 states«wic» and one U.S. territory experienced a decline in obesity rates among preschool children from low-income families. The report provides state-specific trends in obesity rates among children ages 2 to 4 who are enrolled in federal health and nutrition programs, such as the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

“After decades of unrelenting bad news, we’re finally seeing signs of progress. In addition to today’s news about the steady rates for adults, we’ve seen childhood obesity rates declining in cities and states that were among the first to adopt a comprehensive approach to obesity prevention,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, RWJF president and CEO. “But no one should believe the nation’s work is done. We’ve learned a lot in the last decade about how to prevent obesity. Now it’s time to take that knowledge to scale.”

F as in Fat features a series examining high-impact policies to prevent and reduce obesity in the United States. The series highlights significant policy accomplishments over the past decade, including: historic changes to nutrition standards for school foods, improved health screenings for children; changes to improve nutrition and health counseling in the WIC program; increased understanding about how the built environment affects our ability to eat healthy foods and be physically active; the growth of a “complete streets” movement; the launch of a Prevention and Public Health Fund and National Prevention Strategy; and a growth in community-based programs for obesity and related illnesses.

The report includes a growing set of strategies that have improved health– but stresses that they are not yet implemented or funded at a level to reduce obesity trends significantly. Some key recommendations from the report regarding strategies that should be taken to scale include:

• All food in schools must be healthy;
• Kids and adults should have access to more opportunities to be physically active on a regular basis;
• Restaurants should post calorie information on menus;
• Food and beverage companies should market only their healthiest products to children;
• The country should invest more in preventing disease to save money on treating it;
• America’s transportation plans should encourage walking and biking; and
• Everyone should be able to purchase healthy, affordable foods close to home.

The full report with state rankings in all categories and new interactive maps are available at fasinfat.org. TFAH and RWJF collaborated on the report, which was supported by a grant from RWJF.

2012 STATE-BY-STATE ADULT OBESITY RATES

According to recently released CDC data, part of the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, adult obesity rates by state from highest to lowest were:

Note: 1 = Highest rate of adult obesity, 51 = lowest rate of adult obesity.

* In 2011, the CDC modernized the methodology for BRFSS, setting a new baseline for comparisons. The updated approach, incorporating cell phones and using an iterative proportional fitting data weighting method, means rates are even more reflective of each states’ population, but that the rates were determined in a different way than before 2011, which limits the ability to make direct change comparisons.

1.Louisiana (34.7%); 2. Mississippi (34.6%) 3. Arkansas (34.5%); 4. West Virginia (33.8%); 5. Alabama (33%); 6. Oklahoma (32.2%); 7. South Carolina (31.6%); 8. Indiana (31.4%); 9. Kentucky (31.3%); 10. (tie) Michigan and Tennessee (31.1%); 12. Iowa (30.4%); 13. Ohio (30.1%); 14. Kansas (29.9%); 15. (tie) North Dakota and Wisconsin (29.7%); 17. (tie) Missouri and North Carolina (29.6%); 19. Texas (29.2%); 20. (tie) Georgia and Pennsylvania (29.1%); 22. Nebraska (28.6%); 23. Maine (28.4%); 24. (tie) Illinois and South Dakota (28.1%); 26. Maryland (27.6%); 27. Virginia (27.4%); 28. (tie) New Hampshire and Oregon (27.3%); 30. New Mexico (27.1%); 31. Delaware (26.9%); 32. (tie) Idaho and Washington (26.8%); 34. Nevada (26.2%); 35. Arizona (26%); 36. (tie) Alaska and Minnesota and Rhode Island (25.7%); 39. Connecticut (25.6%); 40. Florida (25.2%); 41. California (25%); 42. (tie) New Jersey and Wyoming (24.6%); 44. (tie) Montana and Utah (24.3%); 46. Vermont (23.7%); 47. (tie) Hawaii and New York (23.6%); 49. Massachusetts (22.9%); 50. District of Columbia (21.9%); 51. Colorado (20.5%).

2012 STATE-BY-STATE ADULT OBESITY RANKINGS FOR BABY BOOMERS

** (45-64 Year Olds, includes most Baby Boomers, who range from 49-67 year olds)

Note: 1 = Highest rate of adult obesity, 51 = lowest rate of adult obesity. Data for this analysis was obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) dataset (publicly available on the web at www.cdc.gov/brfss).

1. (tie) Alabama and Louisiana (40.0%); 3. Arkansas (38.9%); 4. Mississippi (38.5%); 5. Tennessee (38.2%); 6. West Virginia (37.8%); 7. Indiana (37.0%); 8. Missouri (36.9%); 9. South Carolina (36.8%); 10. Oklahoma (36.7%); 11. Kentucky (36.0%); 12. Iowa (35.9%); 13. Wisconsin (35.4%); 14. North Dakota (35.0%); 15. Texas (34.9%); 16. Ohio (34.8%); 17. North Carolina (34.7%); 18. Georgia (34.6%); 19. Nebraska (34.5%); 20 (tie) Maryland and Michigan (34.4%); 22. Kansas (34.3%); 23. Virginia (34.2%); 24. Illinois (33.6%); 25. Delaware (33.5%); 26. Pennsylvania (33.2%); 27. South Dakota (32.9%); 28. Maine (32.5%); 29. Alaska (32.4%); 30. Utah (32.3%); 31. Idaho (32.1%); 32. Oregon (32.0%); 33. District of Columbia (31.9%); 34. (tie) New Hampshire and Washington (31.3%); 36. Nevada (31.1%); 37. California (31.0%); 38. Florida (30.7%); 39. (tie) New Mexico and Rhode Island (30.2%); 41. Minnesota (30.0%); 42. Wyoming (29.4%); 43. Montana (29.1%); 44. Arizona (28.9%); 45. Connecticut (28.4%); 46. New York (27.6%); 47. Massachusetts (27.5%); 48. New Jersey (27.3%); 49. Hawaii (26.8%); 50. Vermont (26.4%); 51. Colorado (24.6%).

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Trust for America’s Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority. For more information, visit www.healthyamericans.org.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, measureable, and timely change. For more than 40 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter www.rwjf.org/twitter or Facebook www.rwjf.org/facebook.

Adult Obesity Rate in «state» Could Reach «obesity_30» Percent by 2030, According to New Study

Related Health Care Costs Could Climb by «costs_30» Percent

Washington, D.C., September 18, 2012 – The number of obese adults, along with related disease rates and health care costs, is on course to increase dramatically in «state» over the next 20 years, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2012, a report released today by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

For the first time, the annual report includes an analysis that forecasts 2030 adult obesity rates in each state and the likely resulting rise in obesity-related disease rates and health care costs. By contrast, the analysis also shows that states could prevent obesity-related diseases and dramatically reduce health care costs if they reduced the average body mass index of their residents by just 5 percent by 2030. (For a six-foot-tall person weighing 200 pounds, a 5 percent reduction in BMI would be the equivalent of losing roughly 10 pounds.)

“This study shows us two futures for America’s health,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, RWJF president and CEO. “At every level of government, we must pursue policies that preserve health, prevent disease and reduce health care costs. Nothing less is acceptable.”

The analysis, which was commissioned by TFAH and RWJF and conducted by the National Heart Forum, is based on a peer-reviewed model published last year in The Lancet. Findings include:

Projected Increases in Obesity Rates

If obesity rates continue on their current trajectories, by 2030, the obesity rate in «state» could reach «obesity_30» percent. According to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2011, «staterelease_11» percent of adults in the state were obese.

Nationally, by 2030, 13 states could have adult obesity rates above 60 percent, 39 states could have rates above 50 percent, and all 50 states could have rates above 44 percent. Mississippi could have the highest obesity rate at 66.7 percent, and Colorado could have the lowest obesity rate for any state at 44.8 percent.

Projected Increases in Disease Rates

Over the next 20 years, obesity could contribute to «diab_30_actual» new cases of type 2 diabetes, «chd_30_actual» new cases of coronary heart disease and stroke, «hyper_30_actual» new cases of hypertension, «arth_30_actual» new cases of arthritis, and «cancer_30_actual» new cases of obesity-related cancer in «state».

Currently, more than 25 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, 27 million have chronic heart disease, 68 million have hypertension and 50 million have arthritis. In addition, 795,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year, and approximately one in three deaths from cancer per year (approximately 190,650) are related to obesity, poor nutrition or physical inactivity.

Projected Increase in Health Care Costs

By 2030, obesity-related health care costs in «state» could climb by «costs_30» percent, which could be the «health_30_rank» increase in the country. Nationally, nine states could see increases of more than 20 percent, with New Jersey on course to see the biggest increase at 34.5 percent. Sixteen states and Washington, D.C., could see increases between 15 percent and 20 percent.

In the United States, medical costs associated with treating preventable obesity-related diseases are estimated to increase by $48 billion to $66 billion per year by 2030, and the loss in economic productivity could be between $390 billion and $580 billion annually by 2030. Although the medical cost of adult obesity in the United States is difficult to calculate, current estimates range from $147 billion to nearly $210 billion per year.

How Reducing Obesity Could Lower Disease Rates and Health Care Costs

If BMIs were lowered by 5 percent, «state» could save «save_pct_30» percent in health care costs, which would equate to savings of $«savings_20» by 2030.

The number of «state» residents who could be spared from developing new cases of major obesity-related diseases includes:

• «diab_30» people could be spared from type 2 diabetes,
• «stroke_30» from coronary heart disease and stroke,
• «hyper_30» from hypertension,
• «arth_30» from arthritis, and
• «cancer_30»from obesity-related cancer.

“We know a lot more about how to prevent obesity than we did 10 years ago,” said Jeff Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH. “This report also outlines how policies like increasing physical activity time in schools and making fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable can help make healthier choices easier. Small changes can add up to a big difference. Policy changes can help make healthier choices easier for Americans in their daily lives.”

Report Recommendations

On the basis of the data collected and a comprehensive analysis, TFAH and RWJF recommend making investments in obesity prevention in a way that matches the severity of the health and financial toll the epidemic takes on the nation. The report includes a series of policy recommendations, including:

• Fully implement the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, by implementing the school meal standards and updating nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages in schools;
• Protect the Prevention and Public Health Fund;
• Increase investments in effective, evidence-based obesity-prevention programs;
• Fully implement the National Prevention Strategy and Action Plan;
• Make physical education and physical activity a priority in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act;
• Finalize the Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children Guidelines;
• Fully support healthy nutrition in federal food programs; and
• Encourage full use of preventive health care services and provide support beyond the doctor’s office.

The full report with state rankings in all categories is available on TFAH’s website at www.healthyamericans.org and RWJF’s website at www.rwjf.org. TFAH and RWJF collaborated on the report, which was supported by a grant from RWJF.

STATE-BY-STATE ADULT OBESITY RATE PROJECTIONS FOR 2030

Researchers calculated projections using a model published in The Lancet in 2011 and data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which is an annual phone survey conducted by the CDC and state health departments. The data were adjusted for self-reporting bias. Adults are considered obese if their BMI is 30 or higher. The District of Columbia (D.C.) is included in the rankings because the CDC provides funds to D.C. to conduct a survey in an equivalent way to the states. The full methodology is available in the F as in Fat report.

1. Mississippi (66.7%); 2. Oklahoma (66.4%); 3. Delaware (64.7%); 4. Tennessee (63.4%); 5. South Carolina (62.9%); 6. Alabama (62.6%); 7. Tie Kansas (62.1%); and Louisiana (62.1%); 9. Missouri (61.9%); 10. Arkansas (60.6%); 11. South Dakota (60.4%); 12. West Virginia (60.2%); 13. Kentucky (60.1%); 14. Ohio (59.8%); 15. Michigan (59.4%); 16. (tie) Arizona (58.8%); and Maryland (58.8%); 18. Florida (58.6%); 19. North Carolina (58.0%): 20. New Hampshire (57.7%); 21. Texas (57.2%); 22. North Dakota (57.1%); 23. Nebraska (56.9%); 24. Pennsylvania (56.7%); 25. Wyoming (56.6%); 26. Wisconsin (56.3%); 27. Indiana (56.0%); 28. Washington (55.5%); 29. Maine (55.2%): 30. Minnesota (54.7%); 31. Iowa (54.4%); 32. New Mexico (54.2%); 33. Rhode Island (53.8%); 34. Illinois (53.7%); 35. (tie) Georgia (53.6%); and Montana (53.6%); 37. Idaho (53.0%); 38. Hawaii (51.8%); 39. New York (50.9%); 40. Virginia (49.7%); 41. Nevada (49.6%); 42. Oregon (48.8%); 43. Massachusetts (48.7%); 44. New Jersey (48.6%); 45. Vermont (47.7%); 46. California (46.6%); 47. Connecticut (46.5%); 48. Utah (46.4%); 49. Alaska (45.6%); 50. Colorado (44.8%); 51. District of Columbia (32.6%).

Note: 1 = Highest rate of adult obesity, 51 = lowest rate of adult obesity.

STATE-BY-STATE POTENTIAL HEALTH CARE COST SAVINGS BY 2030 IF STATES REDUCE AVERAGE BODY MASS INDEX BY 5 PERCENT

1. California ($81,702,000,000); 2. Texas ($54,194,000,000); 3. New York ($40,017,000,000); 4. Florida ($34,436,000,000); 5. Illinois ($28,185,000,000); 6. Ohio ($26,328,000,000); 7. Pennsylvania ($24,498,000,000); 8. Michigan ($24,187,000,000); 9. Georgia ($22,743,000,000); 10. North Carolina ($21,101,000,000); 11. Virginia ($18,114,000,000); 12. Washington ($14,729,000,000); 13. Massachusetts ($14,055,000,000); 14. Maryland ($13,836,000,000); 15. Tennessee ($13,827,000,000); 16. Arizona ($13,642,000,000); 17. Indiana ($13,400,000,000); 18. Missouri ($13,368,000,000); 19. Wisconsin ($11,962,000,000); 20. Minnesota ($11,630,000,000); 21. Colorado ($10,794,000,000); 22. Louisiana ($9,839,000,000); 23. Alabama ($9,481,000,000); 24. Kentucky ($9,437,000,000); 25. South Carolina ($9,309,000,000); 26. Oregon ($7,938,000,000); 27. Oklahoma ($7,444,000,000); 28. Connecticut ($7,370,000,000); 29. Mississippi ($6,120,000,000); 30. Arkansas ($6,054,000,000); 31. Kansas ($5,979,000,000); 32. Nevada ($5,921,000,000); 33. Utah ($5,843,000,000); 34. Iowa ($5,702,000,000); 35. New Mexico ($4,095,000,000); 36. Nebraska ($3,686,000,000); 37. West Virginia ($3,638,000,000); 38. Idaho ($3,280,000,000); 39. New Hampshire ($3,257,000,000); 40. Maine ($2,870,000,000); 41. Hawaii ($2,704,000,000); 42. Rhode Island ($2,478,000,000); 43. Montana ($1,939,000,000); 44. Delaware ($1,912,000,000); 45. South Dakota ($1,553,000,000); 46. Alaska ($1,530,000,000); 47. New Jersey ($1,391,000,000); 48. Vermont ($1,376,000,000); 49. North Dakota ($1,177,000,000); 50. Wyoming ($1,088,000,000); 51. District of Columbia ($1,026,000,000).

2011 STATE-BY-STATE ADULT OBESITY RATES

According to recently released CDC data, part of the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, the adult obesity rates by state from highest to lowest were:

1. Mississippi (34.9%); 2. Louisiana (33.4%); 3. West Virginia (32.4%); 4. Alabama (32.0%); 5. Michigan (31.3%); 6. Oklahoma (31.1%); 7. Arkansas (30.9%); 8. (tie) Indiana (30.8%); and South Carolina (30.8%); 10. (tie) Kentucky (30.4%); and Texas (30.4%); 12. Missouri (30.3%); 13. (tie) Kansas (29.6%); and Ohio (29.6%); 15. (tie) Tennessee (29.2%); and Virginia (29.2%); 17. North Carolina (29.1%); 18. Iowa (29.0%); 19. Delaware (28.8%); 20. Pennsylvania (28.6%); 21. Nebraska (28.4%); 22. Maryland (28.3%); 23. South Dakota (28.1%); 24. Georgia (28.0%); 25. (tie) Maine (27.8%); and North Dakota (27.8%); 27. Wisconsin (27.7%); 28. Alaska (27.4%): 29. Illinois (27.1%); 30. Idaho (27.0%); 31. Oregon (26.7%); 32. Florida (26.6%); 33. Washington (26.5%); 34. New Mexico (26.3%); 35. New Hampshire (26.2%); 36. Minnesota (25.7%); 37. (tie) Rhode Island (25.4%); and Vermont (25.4%); 39. Wyoming (25.0%); 40. Arizona (24.7%); 41. Montana (24.6%); 42. (tie) Connecticut (24.5%); Nevada (24.5%); and New York (24.5%); 45. Utah (24.4%); 46. California (23.8%); 47. (tie) District of Columbia (23.7%); and New Jersey (23.7%); 49. Massachusetts (22.7%); 50. Hawaii (21.8%); 51. Colorado (20.7%).

Note: 1 = Highest rate of adult obesity, 51 = lowest rate of adult obesity.

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Trust for America’s Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority. For more information, visit www.healthyamericans.org.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For 40 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter www.rwjf.org/twitter or Facebook www.rwjf.org/facebook.