As obesity rises, so do calls for healthier lifestyles

Despite national and local efforts to shrink Americans' expanding waistlines, adult obesity rates increased in 16 states over the past year, a new report shows. Obesity prevalence did not decline in any state.

The rates were determined by averaging states' obesity data during the three-year period of 2008 through 2010.

Also on the rise is the number of adults living with type 2 diabetes and hypertension, which are associated with being overweight and obese, according to the report issued July 7 by Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

"It is bad news," said James Marks, MD, MPH, senior vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and director of the organization's health group. "Twenty years ago, no state had an obesity rate above 15%. Now, 38 states have rates above 25%. It's a huge shift, and it's relentless."

To curb the obesity epidemic, he said more policies need to be implemented to help adults and children make healthy lifestyle choices. Such efforts include increasing access to high-quality, affordable foods and reducing youths' exposure to the marketing of unhealthy products.

Dr. Marks said primary care physicians should continue speaking to patients about ways to achieve a healthy lifestyle and advocate for obesity-prevention policies in their communities.

"We know that many patients live in communities where healthy choices are almost impossible to make. For the medical profession to be a voice, saying that [these policies] are needed, would be of huge value to the nation," he said.

Researchers examined data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 2008 through 2010. The system is a telephone health survey that tracks health conditions and risk behaviors in the U.S. Adult obesity rates were determined by averaging states' obesity data during the three-year period.

The study found that in 2010, 12 states had obesity rates higher than 30%. There were eight such states in 2009.

Researchers said obesity is most widespread in the South, with Mississippi having the nation's highest rate of 34.4%. The lowest rate was in Colorado, where 19.8% of residents are obese.

Obesity is most common among blacks and Hispanics, people with a limited education and those who earn less than $15,000 a year.

Childhood obesity

The report said obesity affects even the youngest Americans, with about 17% (12.5 million) of children and adolescents considered obese. Since 1980, obesity prevalence among this age group almost has tripled, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To help address the problem, the National Restaurant Assn. on July 13 launched the Kids LiveWell initiative. The program encourages restaurants to offer at least one healthy children's meal with no more than 600 calories and another nutritious item that contains 200 calories or less. Nineteen restaurant brands are participating in the initiative, including Burger King, Denny's and IHOP.

Sue Hensley, a spokeswoman for the National Restaurant Assn., said the initiative is a good step to help improve children's health. But the Center for Science in the Public Interest says the initiative does not go far enough.

"The main problem is that the participants only need to provide one healthy meal and one side that meet the [USDA dietary guidelines]. That doesn't give families many choices," said Margo Wootan, DSc, director of nutrition policy at the center.

This initiative comes on the heels of new policy adopted in June by the American Medical Association House of Delegates that nutritious items in fast-food restaurant children's meals be priced similarly to less-healthy options.