Missouri now 11th most obese state in the nation; 9th worst for childhood obesity

Missouri was named the 11th most obese state in the country, according to the eighth annual F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2011, a report from the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Missouri's adult obesity rate is 30.3 percent. 

U.S. Obesity Rate Maps

Adult obesity rates increased in 16 states in the past year and did not decline in any state. Twelve states including Missouri now have obesity rates over 30 percent. Four years ago, only one state was above 30 percent. Obesity rates exceed 25 percent in more than two-thirds of states (38 states)

• Over the past 15 years, seven states have doubled their rate of obesity. Another 10 states nearly doubled their obesity rate, with increased of at least 90 percent, and 22 more states saw obesity rates increase by at least 80 percent
• Fifteen years ago, Missouri had an obesity rate of 16.9 percent and was ranked seventh most obese state in the nation. The obesity rate in Missouri increased 80 percent over the last 15 years. . . . 

"Today, the state with the lowest adult obesity rate would have had the highest rate in 1995," said Jeff Levi, Ph.D., executive director of TFAH. "There was a clear tipping point in our national weight gain over the last twenty years, and we can't afford to ignore the impact obesity has on our health and corresponding health care spending."

In addition, for many states, their combined rates for overweight and obesity, and rates of chronic health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, have increased dramatically over the past two decades. For Missouri, long-term trends in rates include:

• Fifteen years ago, Missouri had a combined obesity and overweight rate of 52.9 percent. Ten years ago, it was 57.1 percent. Now, the combined rate is 65.6 percent.
• Diabetes rates have doubled in ten states in the past 15 years. In 1995, Missouri had a diabetes rate of 5.7 percent. Now the diabetes rate is 8.8 percent.
• Fifteen years ago, Missouri had a hypertension rate of 23.9 percent. Now, the rate is 29.1 percent.

Racial and ethnic minority adults, and those with less education or who make less money, continue to have the highest overall obesity rates:

• Adult obesity rates in Missouri were 38.2 percent for Blacks. Nationally, obesity rates for Blacks topped 40 percent in 15 states, 35 percent in 35 states, and 30 percent in 42 states and D.C.
• Rates of adult obesity for Latinos were 29 percent in Missouri. National Latino obesity rates were above 35 percent in four states (Mississippi, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Texas) and at 30 percent and above in 23 states.
• Meanwhile, rates of adult obesity for Whites topped 30 percent in just four states (Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia) and no state had a rate higher than 32.1 percent. The rates of adult obesity for Whites were 29.5 percent in Missouri.
• Nearly 33 percent of adults who did not graduate high school are obese compared with 21.5 percent of adults who graduated from college or a technical college.
• More than 33 percent of adults who earn less than $15,000 per year were obese compared with 24.6 percent of adults who earn $50,000 or more per year.

The most recent state-by-state data on obesity rates for youth 10 to 17 are from 2007 and also were included in last year's report. According to the data, 13.6 percent of children and adolescents in Missouri are considered obese.

"The information in this report should spur us all – individuals and policymakers alike – to redouble our efforts to reverse this debilitating and costly epidemic," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A, RWJF president and CEO. "Changing policies is an important way to provide children and families with vital resources and opportunities to make healthier choices easier in their day-to-day lives."

MissouriNet reported on the childhood obesity statistics and adds:

The Department of Health and Senior Services says each year, obesity costs Missouri nearly $2 billion in direct medical costs. It also says obese young people have an 80% chance of becoming obese adults.

Among the efforts to reverse this situation is a new web site developed by the Missouri Foundation for Health and Washington University in St. Louis, which helps schools, businesses, organizations, communities, and government agencies evaluate their policies to promote better health.

The PolicyLift web site will take you through a step-by-step process to evaluate your organization's, community's, or agency's current policies and make specific recommendations for policy changes you can make.

We know that lack of good facilities and safe places to bike and walk is a big part of the problem. Implementing MoBikeFed's Vision for Biking and Walking in Missouri would go a long way towards addressing the underlying environment that stops Missourians from getting the physical activity they want and need.