Delaware is now the 23rd most obese state in the nation, with an adult obesity rate of 30.7 percent, according to The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America, a report published by the the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Trust for America’s Health (TFAH).
The data show that racial and ethnic differencies persist, with an obesity rate of 36.5 percent among black adults, 32.1 percent among Latinos adults, and 29.4 percent among white adults.
Delaware’s long-running high obesity rate is linked to the state’s high health care costs and high rates of diabetes and high blood pressure. Efforts have been under way to encourage people to exercise more often and improve their diets. See earlier story below:
Delaware has nation’s highest percentage of overweight adults
Adult obesity rates decreased in Kansas, increased in Colorado, Minnesota, Washington, and West Virginia, and remained stable in the rest of states between 2015 and 2016.
Delaware ranked 10th the obesity rate among those in high school.
Obesity rates have steadied in recent years, yet adult obesity rates now exceed 35 percent in five states and top 30 percent in 25 states. West Virginia has the highest adult obesity rate at 37.7 percent and Colorado has the lowest at 22.3 percent.
Southern states, with the exception of Florida, had the highest obesity rates. Northern states were mixed, with Minnesota ranking toward the bottom and neighboring Wisconsin tied with Delaware and ranking higher.
The rankings are as follows:
- West Virginia (37.7)
- Mississippi (37.3)
- (tie) Alabama (35.7) and Arkansas (35.7)
- Louisiana (35.5)
- Tennessee (34.8)
- Kentucky (34.2)
- Texas (33.7)
- Oklahoma (32.8); 10. (tie) Indiana (32.5) and Michigan (32.5)
- South Carolina (32.3)
- (tie) Iowa (32) and Nebraska (32)
- North Dakota (31.9)North Carolina (31.8)
- Missouri (31.7)
- Illinois (31.6)
- Ohio (31.5)
- (tie) Alaska (31.4) and Georgia (31.4)
- Kansas (31.2)
- (tie) Delaware (30.7) and Wisconsin (30.7)
- Pennsylvania (30.3); 26. (tie) Maine (29.9) and Maryland (29.9)
- South Dakota (29.6)
- (tie) Arizona (29) and Virginia (29)
- Oregon (28.7)
- Washington (28.6)
- New Mexico (28.3)
- Minnesota (27.8)
- Wyoming (27.7)
- (tie) Florida (27.4) and Idaho (27.4) and New Jersey (27.4)
- Vermont (27.1)
- (tie) New Hampshire (26.6) and Rhode Island (26.6)
- Connecticut (26); 43. Nevada (25.8); 44. (tie) Montana (25.5) and New York (25.5)
- Utah (25.4)
- California (25)
- Hawaii (23.8)
- Massachusetts (23.6)D.C. (22.6)
- Colorado (22.3)
The full report—the 14th annual edition—can be found on stateofobesity.org.
