WASHINGTON—Obesity rates among U.S. adults are getting larger, according to the annual obesity rankings form the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This year, obesity rates in 23 states rose compared to last year, and no state experienced a significant decline. And, in 31 states, more than one in four adults are obese.
The report provides one of the first in-depth look at obesity among Baby Boomers and found in every state, the rate of obesity is higher among 55- to 64-year-olds — the oldest boomers — than those 65 years and older . In Alabama, nearly 39 percent of the oldest boomers are obese.
Mississippi kept its place as the fattest state with 32.5 percent of adults as obese and 44.4 percent of children overweight or obese. Alabama followed with 21.2 percent of the adults being obese and in third and forth places are West Virginia (31.1 percent) and Tennessee (30.2 percent).
In 1991, no state had more than a 20 percent obesity rate. Today, the only state that doesn't is Colorado, at 18.9 percent.