An estimated 93.3 million adults and 13.7 million children and adolescents in the U.S. are affected by obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and many experts fear the problem is getting worse. Aside from the daily obstacles — such as traveling — obesity increases the risk of many serious health problems including heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. All four are listed on the top 10 leading causes of death nationwide.
The “obesity and overweight prevalence” rank was calculated using the number of overweight or obese adults, teenagers and children in each state. “Health consequences” was measured by the number of obesity-related complications such as Type 2 Diabetes and obesity-related cancer. The final category, “food and fitness,” looked at access to healthy food and the daily consumption of fruits and vegetables.Mississippi and West Virginia are reportedly the fattest states in the U.S.
Louisiana ranked highest for cholesterol, Montana ranked the lowestOne of the most important predictors of obesity — aside from physical activity — is diet. So it’s no wonder that the top five places with the highest levels of cholesterol also align with the fattest overall. Louisiana took the first spot as the state with the largest percentage of adults with high cholesterol, followed by Kentucky, Mississippi, West Virginia and Oklahoma.