Mississippi is the fattest state

by Nicole Weston, Posted Aug 14th 2006 @ 9:02AM

CalorieLab has just released a list of the fattest states in the country for 2006. Their research reveals that Mississippi is the fattest state, where approximately 29.5% of the population is obese based on a three year statistical average. If the statistics are extended to include the overweight population, as well as those who are obese, the results show that over 2/3 (67.3%) of the state's residents are either overweight or obese; Mississippi is the only state to have that dubious honor. Following close behind in the obesity count are Alabama, West Virginia, Louisiana and Kentucky. Colorado is the leanest state, followed in no particular order by Hawaii, Montana and a handful of the New England states.

The data was gathered from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System database from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which reveals some very interesting information about some of the factors that contribute to obesity, such as diet, nutrition and physical activity levels. For example, only 16% of adults in Mississippi eat the recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, compared to 29% in California and 30% in Vermont.

Fruit and vegetable intake is not going to turn the tide against obesity, especially considering that every state except one (Nevada) saw an increase in the percentage of the obese population over the last year. Diet does, however, play a large role in health and gradual changes in daily eating habits, as well as physical activity patterns, could change some of these numbers over time.

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Filed Under: Trends, Did you know?, Super Size Me, Health & Medical
Tags: alabana, america, american, california, center for disesase control and prevention, colorado vermont, did you know, diet, fruits, health, mississippi, nutrition, obese, obesity, risk, risk factors, south, southern states, super size me, vegetables, west, west virginia, western states, wouthern states

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 24)

8-14-2006 @11:16AM Jennifer said... This doesn't surprise me. My home state is the leader in so many terrible things - teen pregnancy, pre-teen pregnancy, etc., etc.
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8-14-2006 @1:33PM MJ said... And I might add the poorest in the country.Some areas dont even have garbage collection or newspaper. We need to help our country before we help and rebuild others! Mississippi needs help and has for decades!! Among other states that I wont metion. They dont call it the dirty south for nothing. And yesa I am a southern and would not want ot live else where! The cheapest food is usually the foods that are the worst health wise for you. But when you are hungry and your children need to be fed. Full bellies come before transfats...........................Pray for us all!
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8-14-2006 @6:10PM Finished.Law.School said... How much do these results change over the years? I am thinking not by much.
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8-14-2006 @7:32PM Rhea said... I am from the second-leanest state in the nation -- Massachusetts. I had no idea! I mean, I see so many fat folks on the subway everyday.
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8-14-2006 @9:37PM Mark said... If the above map numbers are correct MA is in second place and not montana. MA = 18.6 vs. Mon = 19.9.

I'm from ma and given how high are taxes are I'm trying to make sure we get credit for being low with something. ;-)
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8-15-2006 @8:07PM Ikey said... Mark,

I liked that one, I even chuckled.

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8-15-2006 @8:22PM Jerry said... It would be interesting to see the statistics broken down by age, economic class, and race. What would one imagine to be the fattest class of Americans? Poor blacks? Probably. However, Mexican Americans come very close to being unhealthy and fat. Anyone that has seen their starchy diet can understand that. Meanwhile Korean Americans and Asian Americans in general are unaccountably slender most of their lives. Diet and culture weigh in obviously. White women that are low or lower middle class also demonstrate a great propensity for being over weight.
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8-15-2006 @8:23PM MR GREEN said... I dont care what you have to say about anything.
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8-15-2006 @8:25PM John said... Wonder what is with the lean trend in the Intermountain states?
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8-15-2006 @8:26PM Richie Rich said... What a joke!

Don't blame weak willpower. Don't blame genetics. Don't blame the state's income level.

Blame American False Need Advertising which has been distorting "what's needed" since the second world war!!

If we change our advertising habits, our culture and it's fat population will change also. But keep telling us to buy the Big Mac and we'll keep super sizing till we explode.
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8-15-2006 @8:27PM Mark said... I would be curious to how these same states number out 1 thru 50 in poverty, depression, unemployment and suicide. Some how I'd bet that there is a correlation.
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8-15-2006 @8:31PM sherry said... Many of us have gained weight due to life style, and additives in our food. Also we are stressed and over worked. Americans take less time off work than most countries. Food is eaten on the run due to our work load. We ride in cars and don't walk anywhere...
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8-15-2006 @8:33PM jaci said... I would just like to add that medications that companies have created to save lives can have weight gain as a side effect i.e. antidepressants, steroids, birth control, heart and blood pressure meds. can all lower or change ones metabolism. Many of our elderly cannot exercise due to body mechanice or disease. We have figured out how to keep people alive longer, now we need to figure out how to improve their quality of life.
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8-15-2006 @8:34PM Jenny said... I think the sensistivity Rhea from MA shows about people in general whether big or small shows how narrow minded people can be.
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8-15-2006 @8:34PM Reg said... The states with the lowest rates of obesity are either in a vertical line with the four corner states, or ajacent to one another, as in the northeastern states. Could the product distribution (least additives, grass fed as opposed to grain fed beef, for example) in those regions influence the results?
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8-15-2006 @8:34PM June Byrne said... It's a national epidemic, its everywhere. Kids are larger than they were 30 years ago due to all the growth hormones in commercial meat and chicken products. Combined with pestides that further poisen the publics metalbolism.

Eat Organic!
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8-15-2006 @8:35PM Harold Grimes said... Poster #5 must be reading the percentages wrong.... I see Maine at 22.0, not 18.6. But he is right about Montana not being in second place, Mass. is with 18.6 followed by R.I. and Vermount at 19.5...........
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8-15-2006 @8:43PM Boudreaux said... I am from Louisiana where the obesity rate is also high. If you've ever eaten "up north" you'd know why Southern states have high obesity rates. We know how to cook!!!
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8-15-2006 @8:44PM Juanell said... Mississippi has too many people on welfare that could be out working but instead they are paid or rewarded ever how you want to put it for having babies. And some of them start at 12 and sometimes even younger. They sell the food stamps and buy whatever they want. They should have to use the food stamps for healthy food. One baby might be a mistake but not 6 or more with each having a different father. Having babies close together leads to obesity and out of shape.
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