Interactive graphics: See how obesity relates to poverty for adults and children
Rates of adult obesity have risen in 28 US states in a single year, according to from the (TFAH) and the .
Over the period from 2007 to 2009, there were eight states in which more than 30 per cent of adults were obese up from four in 2006 to 2008. “These are pretty staggering numbers,” says Jeffrey Levi of TFAH, one of the report’s authors.
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The report also probes the effect of race and income, showing that obesity disproportionately affects black and Hispanic people, who tend to be poorer than whites and Asians. More than 35 per cent of US adults earning under $15,000 per year are obese, compared with less than 25 per cent for those earning more than $50,000.
Even though waistlines are still broadening, Levi is encouraged by action being taken at federal, state and local levels, including projects to promote physical activity and access to healthier food. Obese people who lose even a modest amount of weight can , Levi points out.
