Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
According to recent data from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), four in 10 adults in the United States aged 20 and older are obese. One in 10 are severely obese. However, this number drastically varies when it zoom in on a state level. That’s exactly what WaleltHub did: In a recent study succinctly titled “Most Overweight & Obese States in America,” researchers assessed each of the 50 plus Washington D..C. across three main dimensions: “Obesity & Overweight Prevalence;” “Health Consequences;” and “Food & Fitness.” Factors such as “Share of Obese Adults” and “Obesity-Related Death Rate” were also taken into account. As far as Pennsylvania goes, the Keystone State was found to be the 25th overall most obese and overweight state in the country, placing it on the higher end of the spectrum. WalletHub researchers also determined that Pennsylvania top comfort food was also the Philly cheesesteak, which is an average 1,146 calories per serving. The top three most obese states were: Arkansas in third; Mississippi in second; and West Virginia in first. “West Virginia is the most overweight state overall,” the study elaborates. “A whopping 42 percent of the state’s adults are classified as obese, and another 31 percent are overweight but not obese. “In addition to the highest adult obesity rate, West Virginia has the highest obesity rate for teens in grades 9 through 12 and the second-highest rate for children ages 10 to 17. The Mountain State also has some of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, heart attacks and high cholesterol in the nation. These obesity-linked health issues are a drain on the economy, costing the state over $58 million per year.” Then there’s Colorado at the bottom of the list as the U.S.’s least obese and overweight state. “While losing weight largely hinges on whether an individual chooses to eat healthy foods, limit their calorie intake and exercise consistently, certain states make shedding the pounds easier than others,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “For example, some states are much better at regulating school lunches to make sure they are healthy, and have more opportunities for adults to buy fresh, nutritious ingredients. “In addition, while any can exercise at home, some states provide far more locations for people to go to work or play sports.”
