This Is Where Ohio Ranks Among The Most Obese States In America

Columbus OH

23 July, 2021

12:45 PM

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By Hristina Byrnes, 24/7 Wall St. Columbus 2021-07-22 The obesity epidemic in the U.S. is a major health issue, and it's getting worse. The current national adult obesity rate is 29.7%, but almost half of adults are projected to be obese, not just overweight, by 2030, according to Harvard researchers estimates published in December 2019 in the New England Journal of Medicine. While the country as a whole is facing an obesity crisis, the problem is much more pronounced in some states. Ohio is the state with the 12th highest adult obesity rate in the U.S. About 33.5% of adult residents report a body mass index of 30 or greater. High obesity rates can detrimentally affect health. About 17.8% of adults in Ohio report being in poor or fair health, the 21st highest share in the U.S. Nationwide, 17.0% of adults report subpar health. Obesity is a leading risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, and 12.2% of Ohio residents over the age of 20 have diabetes, the 10th highest share of all states. The diabetes prevalence across the country among the same age group is 10.5% There are a multitude of social and economic factors that predispose certain populations to higher obesity rates. People with lower incomes are less able to afford proper medical care and healthy lifestyles, which include eating a healthy diet and having easy access to gyms and other options for physical activity. The median household income in Ohio is $58,642 a year, the 15th lowest in the U.S. and $7,070 less than the median across the country of $65,712 a year. Insufficient sleep, defined as sleeping less than seven hours per night on average, has been shown to be a contributing factor to obesity. Sleep deprivation interferes with the two hormones that control appetite. Lack of sleep can lead to increased levels of ghrelin (increased appetite) and decreased levels of leptin (diminished feeling of fullness), possibly leading to weight gain. About 40.6% of adults in Ohio report not getting enough sleep, the fifth highest share in the U.S. and compared to 35.2% of U.S. adults. Health experts have pointed to several lifestyle factors that are likely contributing to the excess weight problem among Americans, including a sedentary lifestyle. The physical inactivity rate in Ohio is 26.1%, the 13th highest in the U.S. Nationwide, 22.7% of adults don't exercise on a regular basis. To identify the most obese states, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed health data from the 2021 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program. These are the most obese states in America     Can't see the article's infographic? Click here to view the original story.This story was originally published by 24/7 Wall St., a news organization that produces real-time business commentary and data-driven reporting for state and local markets across the country.