(Radio Iowa) – A new report shows Iowans are continuing to pack on the pounds, with more than one in every three Iowa adults now being considered obese.
Dr. Nadine Gracia, president and C-E-O of Trust for America’s Health, says the national report places Iowa tied for seventh with Indiana for the most overweight states. Gracia says Iowa’s 37-percent adult obesity rate is up slightly from last year, and over the past five years, there’s been a significant increase.
About ten years ago, the report found -zero- states with an adult obesity rating over 35-percent. Now, 23 states — including Iowa — have adult obesity rates at or above 35-percent. Gracia calls obesity a national public health issue that goes far beyond individual behavior. The report shows West Virginia has the highest obesity rate at 41-percent, while Colorado ranked the lowest with 25-percent.