U.S. Obesity Epidemic Continues to Grow

Despite efforts to encourage Americans to lose weight, the number of U.S. adults who are obese increased almost 2 percent between 2005 and 2007.

In 2007, 25.6 percent of adults reported being obese, compared to 23.9 percent in 2005.

The percentage of obese adults who are obese varies by state and region. In Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, 30 percent of the residents reported being obese, compared with 18.7 percent in Colorado, which had the lowest prevalence of obesity.

Obesity was most prevalent in the South, with 27 percent of residents classified as obese. In the Midwest, the number was 25.3 percent. In the Northeast, it was 23.3 percent, and in the West, 22.1 percent.


Sources:

* Washington Post July 17, 2008