Adult obesity rates increased in 2009: report

Adult obesity rates increased in 28 states this past year, according to the report (.pdf file), "F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2010," released this week by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Currently, 38 states have adult obesity rates higher than 25 percent. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate greater than 20 percent.

Blacks and Latinos had higher obesity rates than whites in 40 states and the District of Columbia. The obesity rate for blacks was more than 40 percent in nine states, while the rate for Latinos was more than 35 percent in two states. Comparatively, whites had an obesity rate greater than 30 percent in only one state -- West Virginia.

Obesity seems to be more highly concentrated in the South, where 10 out of 11 states with the highest rates are located. Obesity also appears to be more common among lower-income individuals. The report indicated 35.3 percent of people making less than $15,000 annually were obese, compared with 24.5 percent earning $50,000 or more.

The report included recommended actions that could be taken at federal, state and community levels to reduce obesity rates nationwide.