The Most And Least Obese States In The U.S.

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A new report reveals the most and least obese states in the U.S. -- and they're not the same as previous years.

Montana is now the least obese state in the U.S., with 19.6 percent of residents qualifying as obese in 2013, according to a new report from Gallup-Healthways researchers. Previously, Colorado was the least obese obese state -- but in 2013, it fell to the No. 2 spot, with an obesity rate of 20.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Mississippi is now the most obese state in the U.S., with 35.4 percent of residents being obese in 2013. West Virginia had previously been the most obese state from 2010 through 2012.

Overall, obesity in the U.S. has increased from 26.2 percent in 2012 to 27.1 percent in 2013; the obesity rate was 25.5 percent in 2008.

The most obese states also had the highest rates of chronic disease. The report showed that an average of 35.8 percent of Americans who live in the 10 most obese states have high blood pressure and 28.2 percent of Americans who live in the 10 most obese states have high cholesterol. The depression rate is 20.7 percent, the diabetes rate is 14.3 percent, the cancer rate is 7.8 percent and heart attack rate is 5 percent among residents in these 10 states, as well.

Meanwhile, the average percentage of residents living in the 10 least obese states with high blood pressure is 26.4 percent; the average percentage of residents with high cholesterol in these states is 23.2 percent.

People in the least obese states were also more likely to report healthy eating and exercise. Nearly 67 percent of the residents in the 10 least obese states reported eating healthfully "all day yesterday," and 59.6 percent reported eating five or more servings of produce for at least four days in the last week. And about 56 percent said they exercised for at least a half hour on three days in the last week.

On the other hand, 60.8 percent of residents in the 10 most obese states said they "ate healthy all day yesterday," 55.8 percent reported eating five or more servings of produce and 49.6 percent reporting exercising for at least a half hour.

For a look at the ranking of the top 10 and bottom 10 states for obesity, based on phone interviews of 178,072 U.S. adults, check out the lists below:

The states with the lowest obesity rates:
1. Montana

Montana had the lowest obesity rate in the U.S., with 19.6 percent of residents obese in 2013.

2. Colorado
The obesity rate in Colorado in 2013 was 20.4 percent.

3. Nevada
The obesity rate in Nevada in 2013 was 21.1 percent.

4. Minnesota
The obesity rate in Minnesota in 2013 was 22 percent.

5. Massachusetts

The obesity rate in Massachusetts in 2013 was 22.2 percent.

6. Connecticut
The obesity rate in Connecticut in 2013 was 23.2 percent.

7. New Mexico
The obesity rate in New Mexico in 2013 was 23.5 percent.

8. California
The obesity rate in California in 2013 was 23.6 percent.

9. Hawaii

The obesity rate in Hawaii in 2013 was 23.7 percent.

10. New York
The obesity rate in New York in 2013 was 24 percent.

The states with the highest obesity rates:

1. Mississippi

Mississippi had the highest obesity rate in the U.S., with 35.4 percent of residents obese in 2013.

2. West Virginia
The obesity rate in West Virginia in 2013 was 34.4 percent.

3. Delaware
The obesity rate in Delaware in 2013 was 34.3 percent.

4. Louisiana

The obesity rate in Louisiana in 2013 was 32.7 percent.

5. Arkansas
The obesity rate in Arkansas in 2013 was 32.3 percent.

6. South Carolina
The obesity rate in South Carolina in 2013 was 31.4 percent.

7. Tennessee

The obesity rate in Tennessee in 2013 was 31.3 percent.

8. Ohio
The obesity rate in Ohio in 2013 was 30.9 percent.

9. Kentucky
The obesity rate in Kentucky in 2013 was 30.6 percent.

10. Oklahoma
The obesity rate in Oklahoma in 2013 was 30.5 percent.

Source - HuffNews

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