West Virginia can breathe slightly easier now - the state is no longer America's fattest. Instead, the dubious honor belongs to Mississippi, which counts 35.4 percent of its population as obese.
The information, derived from the most recent Gallup-Healthways State of the States poll, saw West Virginia move to second place with 34.4 percent and Delaware in third with 34.3 percent. The top five was rounded out by Louisiana at 32.7 percent and Arkansas at 32.3 percent.
Unsurprisingly, the ten heaviest states had heightened reports of chronic disease, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, heart attacks, and cancer. Among those living in these states, the data demonstrated that 35.8 percent of people had been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Also fittingly, residents of the ten least obese states had better diets and exercise habits, with 66.7 percent noting they 'ate healthy all day yesterday' in the poll.
Obesity rates have continued to grow each year since the poll began in 2008, and with it, so to do the costs associated with obesity-related illnesses. Gallup-Healthways has recommended that those in unhealthy weight ranges consider weight management programs to reduce risk of chronic illness. "While there are a variety of factors that are often correlated with rising obesity rates, such as an unhealthy food environment, poor eating habits, increasing portion sizes, and inactivity, experts agree that the health consequences of obesity are real," Dr. James E. Pope, Senior Vice President and Chief Science Officer at Healthways said. "Research has shown that the average healthcare costs for an obese individual are over $1,300 more annually than someone who is not obese. Although slowing and even reversing this trend may seem daunting, even modest weight loss of 5% to 10% of initial body weight can lower the health risks associated with obesity," he added. A related poll found that obesity rose to 27.1 percent nationally in 2013.
The states with the lowest obesity rates were Montana, with 19.6 percent people considered obese, Colorado with 20.4 percent, and Nevada with 21.1 percent. Minnesota and Massachusetts came in at fourth and fifth places, with 22.0 percent and 22.2 percent respectively.
