A new look by the Centers for Disease Control note that 12 states in the U.S. now have adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%.
While many of those states are in the south – it highlights the unintended cost of obesity beyond personal health.
People who have obesity, compared to those with a healthy weight, are at increased risk for many other serious diseases and health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, and many types of cancer. In addition, obesity costs the US healthcare system $147 billion a year, according to the CDC.
Obesity also worsens the outcomes of COVID-19, which increases the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and even death.
Factors contributing to obesity include neighborhood design, access to safe and convenient places for physical activity, and access to healthy, affordable foods and beverages. The racial and ethnic disparities in obesity underscore the need to address social determinants of health such as poverty, education, and housing.
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