| Overall Rank (1 = Fattest) | State | Total Score |
|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 70.66 |
| 2 | West Virginia | 69.93 |
| 3 | Kentucky | 67.81 |
| 4 | Tennessee | 66.89 |
Rural populations with a higher risk of obesity include those who are:
- Age 60 and above.
- Low-income.
- Caucasians living in Appalachia.
- Latino migrant farm workers.
- American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) living on reservations.
- African-Americans living in the south.
More than one in two adults and nearly one in six children are overweight or obese in OECD countries. Adult obesity rates are highest in the United States, Mexico, New Zealand and Hungary, while they are lowest in Japan and Korea.
At least 2.8 million people each year die as a result of being overweight or obese.
Those with a body mass index, or BMI, above 40 are robbed of at least 6 1/2 years, on average, of expected life span, a study has found. And the toll in years lost rises with the degree of obesity, reaching nearly 14 years for the most obese -- those with a BMI above 55, researchers said.
Obesity is generally caused by eating too much and moving too little. If you consume high amounts of energy, particularly fat and sugars, but do not burn off the energy through exercise and physical activity, much of the surplus energy will be stored by the body as fat.
The fundamental causes behind the rising levels of childhood obesity are a shift in diet towards increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat and sugars but low in vitamins, minerals and other healthy micronutrients, and a trend towards decreased levels of physical activity.
Promote a Healthy Lifestyle
Parents and caregivers can help prevent childhood obesity by providing healthy meals and snacks, daily physical activity, and nutrition education. Healthy meals and snacks provide nutrition for growing bodies while modeling healthy eating behavior and attitudes.Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed as well as in developing countries. Childhood obesity can profoundly affect children's physical health, social, and emotional well-being, and self esteem. It is also associated with poor academic performance and a lower quality of life experienced by the child.
Obesity prevalence was 13.9% among 2- to 5-year-olds, 18.4% among 6- to 11-year-olds, and 20.6% among 12- to 19-year-olds. Childhood obesity is also more common among certain populations. Hispanics (25.8%) and non-Hispanic blacks (22.0%) had higher obesity prevalence than non-Hispanic whites (14.1%).
In an effort to combat and prevent childhood obesity, we have compiled a list of fun ways to encourage kids to eat healthy and get active.
- Make a Favorite Dish Healthier.
- Drink Water.
- Incorporate Healthy Snacks.
- Teach Kids about Serving Size.
- Make a Favorite Dish Healthier.
- Drink Water.
- Incorporate Healthy Snacks.
Obesity's mental health impact is critical, too. Childhood obesity can lead to sleeping disorders, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Obesity can make it harder for kids to participate in activities, and even chores may become dreadful. Kids also become a target for bullying.
Children are considered obese when their body mass index, a measure of weight in relation to height, exceeds that of 95 percent of their peers of the same age and sex. Overall, obesity rates increased from 14.5 percent in the 1999-2000 survey to 17.3 percent in 2011-2012.
