A lot of people in the United States are facing a big health problem they’re obese. It’s a condition that affects millions everywhere in the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) keeps track of how many people are obese by using something called the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. They examine all 50 states, Washington D.C., and three US territories. Let’s take a close look at what the CDC found out about obesity rates by state in 2022, paying attention to who it affects more depending on their race or where they live, and we’ll try to understand why so many people have this problem.
Demographic Disparities
When we look at the numbers from the CDC, it’s clear that not everyone is similarly affected by obesity. Black adults who aren’t Hispanic and Hispanic adults often weigh too much, with 38 states plus Washington D.C. reporting high numbers over 35% of these folks are obese.
Asian adults who aren’t Hispanic have the smallest number of people with obesity. Only one place Washington D.C. has more than 35% of these adults with obesity. Also, this information shows differences based on how much school someone finished and their age. Adults who didn’t finish high school are most likely to be obese followed by those who went to some college or finished high school.
Conversely, college graduates have a much lower chance of being obese. Also, middle-aged adults between 45 and 54 are more often obese than young adults between 18 and 24, which means we need special plans to help people stay healthy no matter how old they are. US Obesity rates in 2024 will vary greatly depending on where you live in America. Every state and territory has an obesity rate of over 20%.
The Midwest and South especially have higher numbers of obese folks showing there’s a real problem there that needs fixing. The South has the highest number of people who are obese.
An explanation about BMI Interpretation, Body Mass Index, or BMI, is how we figure out if adults 20 years or older weigh too much. If you have a BMI of 30 or more, you’re considered obese. If your BMI is between 25 and just under 30, then you’re seen as overweight. The experts at the CDC stress that we should be kind when we talk about obesity, using words that put the person before their weight issue.
Socioeconomic status
The big factor is how healthy you are and whether you’re likely to be obese or not. If you don’t make much money, it can be tough to buy good food because it’s expensive and sometimes you can’t find fresh veggies and fruits where you live. Also, if there aren’t safe places to play or work near your home, this might make obesity more common for people who aren’t rich.
To stop obesity, we must nudge folks toward picking better food such as fruits, veggies, and whole grains. They must also get off the couch more often and sweat it out regularly. Public health campaigns against obesity have got their work cut out for them. They should take on this beast from all sides at once. That means making sure healthy food isn’t just available but affordable where it’s needed most. It means making towns and cities more walk-friendly or bike-friendly so moving naturally becomes part of daily life.
Summing it Up
A look at the CDC’s latest maps on adult obesity rates by state shows it’s everywhere in the U.S. Now we know how important it is to fix this not just for some but for all. Different folks and places face bigger challenges with US obesity rates over time because of money, where they live, or their lifestyle. To beat this, we must devise plans that consider everything.