Carrying too much weight is a serious problem. It puts a person at risk for many illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. It creates problems with joints. It makes it harder to fight infections. Obesity was a major risk factor for those who died from COVID-19. Obesity is defined as having a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or greater. For example: a 5 foot 9-inch adult with a BMI of 30 would weigh 203 pounds.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) released its 2019 Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps. The results are cause for alarm.
6 states had an obesity prevalence of 35% or higher for non-Hispanic white adults
15 states had an obesity prevalence of 35% or higher among Hispanic adults
34 states and the District of Columbia have an obesity prevalence of 35% or higher among non-Hispanic Black adults
In every state in the US at least 20% of the population is obese, only Colorado had the lowest number of obese adults
Midwestern and southern states had the highest prevalence of obesity followed by the northeast and the west
