Compared with Other States, Hawaii Adults Not So Fat

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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released a report Thursday (Aug. 15)  saying that, after three decades of increases, adult obesity rates remained level in every state except for one, Arkansas.

The states with the highest obesity rates are Louisiana (34.7% percent), Mississippi (34.6 percent), Arkansas (34.5 percent), West Virginia (33.8 percent) and Alabama (33 percent).

Hawaii is ranked 47th with New York (23.6 percent), just behind Massachusetts (22.9 percent), the District of Columbia (21.9 percent) and Colorado (20.5 percent).

“After decades of unrelenting bad news, we’re finally seeing signs of progress. In addition to today’s news about the steady rates for adults, we’ve seen childhood obesity rates declining in cities and states that were among the first to adopt a comprehensive approach to obesity prevention,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, RWJF president and CEO.

The Robert Wood Johnson foundation is a philanthropy ”devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans,” according to a press release.

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Photo: Box of malasadas. (imgdive)

—Chad Blair

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