Obesity: Still a Big Problem in the US

Obesity continues to be a significant health concern across the United States, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In response to the new data, the CDC called on health officials, employers, community leaders and others to make significant efforts to reduce obesity.

According to the CDC, every US state had an obesity rate of at least 1 in 5 adults. Rates were much higher in some areas. For example, 32 percent of adults in the South were obese. The Midwest followed at 31.4 percent.

West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama all had obesity rates that were over 35 percent.

The CDC data also examined obesity rates among adults in various demographics. Non-Hispanic blacks had an obesity rate of 38.3 percent, while Hispanics were at 32.5 percent and whites were at 28.1 percent.

Obesity raises the risk of several serious health problems, such as stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain kinds of cancer. If you are concerned about your weight, ask your health care provider how you can lose weight and stay healthy.

The CDC based these 2016 findings on self-reported obesity data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.