In 16 states, 35% or more of residents are now obese: CDC | Health Info

By Cara Murez and Ernie Mundell Health Day Reporters

THURSDAY, September 16, 2021 (HealthDay News) – America’s waistline continues to grow.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that 16 states now have at least 35% of their residents obese, a number that has nearly doubled since 2018.

The CDC’s 2020 adult obesity prevalence maps now show Delaware, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas to join Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia with high rates of obesity.

One expert said the unhealthy move towards more obese Americans was not surprising.

“While COVID may be an accelerator, the trends have long continued,” said Dr. Mitchell Roslin, chief of obesity surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “It is the consequence of changes in our food supply and increased consumption of processed foods.”

He believes the ease of access to unhealthy processed foods – often cheaper and easier to prepare than fresh, unprocessed foods – means Americans are increasingly eating foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients.

So, said Roslin, “if you go with the flow and aren’t proactive, obesity and insulin resistance have become the norm.” Insulin resistance is a precursor to diabetes.

The CDC also highlighted notable racial and ethnic disparities around obesity. Some states and territories did not have sufficient data to disaggregate the problem by race and ethnicity, but among those that did, 35 states and Washington, DC, had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 35% among residents. black, 22 states had achieved it. level for their Hispanic residents, and seven states had this prevalence among white residents.

“Ethnic disparities can be explained to some extent by socio-economic factors,” Roslin said. “Real foods that aren’t processed cost more. Fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive. So are animal products and fish that only get natural food.

No state had an obesity prevalence equal to or greater than 35% among Asian residents. However, some studies have suggested that the health risks associated with obesity may arise at a lower body mass index for Asian people.

Obesity remains a huge health problem in the United States, as obesity leads to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and even more mental health, said the researchers in a CDC press release.

Sharon Zarabi is a registered dietitian and program director at the Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell Health, New York and Westchester. She thinks it’s getting harder and harder for Americans to resist the lure of cheap, high-calorie foods.

“Look around, it’s no surprise that obesity rates have proliferated over the past decade,” Zarabi said. “We live in a world where food is ubiquitous, highly processed, and tastes really good. Oreo cookies have almost 20 flavor varieties – how can you pass that up? “

Being “locked up” at home during the pandemic hasn’t helped reduce waistlines, she added. But there are some simple lifestyle changes that can help.

“If we start the day with a breakfast that is high in protein and fiber, and continue to listen to our hunger and fullness signals throughout the day with whole foods, we will feel more energetic, we will walk with less. inflammation and be able to function better… at our best, ”Zarabi said.

As for the nation as a whole, solutions to the obesity epidemic include a “sustained and comprehensive effort by all parts of society,” according to the CDC. This includes alleviating poverty, lack of access to health care, and other equity issues that can contribute to health disparities.

At the individual level, people should also talk to their health care provider regularly about their body mass index, family history, lifestyle and health risks, the CDC team advised.

SOURCES: Sharon Zarabi, RD, program director, Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell Health, New York City and Westchester; Mitchell Roslin, MD, chief, obesity surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, press release, September 15, 2021

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