REPORT: Wisconsin Less Obese Than it Used to Be, But Still Overweight

WISCONSIN -- States among the most obese in the U.S. appear to be putting on weight where adult males and females in Wisconsin appear to be slimming down - at least a little bit.

The Center for Disease Control releases annual obesity statistics each September based on larger, self-reported studies on behavioral risk factors. Again, in every U.S. state, at least one in five adults is obese. Colorado has the lowest percentage at 20.2 percent, and Louisiana has moved to the top of the list with 36.2 percent.

The Badger State, meanwhile, has slimmed down in the rankings, coming in at 21st in 2015 with 30.7 percent of all adults as obese. That's down from 2014 when Wisconsin ranked 15th with 31.2 percent of all adults listed as obese. Still, though, nearly 1 in 4 Wisconsinites is considered overweight.

A person is considered obese if an adult male or female's body mass index (BMI) is over 30. For example, a female standing 5'4" with a weight over 174 lbs. is considered obese. If a male stanindg 5'10" weighs more than 209 lbs, he's obese.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition (DNPAO) Many American communities lack environments that could support healthy diets and regular physical activity. Healthy dietary and physical activity practices can lower the risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. In addition, excess calorie intake and physical inactivity contribute to obesity, which is associated with some of the leading preventable chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Among adults, the medical costs associated with obesity are an estimated $147 billion.

The CDC provides additional funding to 32 states to improve access to healthy foods and increase outreach on the importance of physical activity.

For example, in Wisconsin, where the obesity rate is at 30.7 percent, the CDC spent more than $423,732 in the last fiscal year to address obesity in the state. Wisconsin has launched educational campaigns, worked with area farmers markets, designed the Active Early and Healthy Bites resource kits for providers, parents, and educators to reduce childhood obesity.

Rankings of self-reported obesity prevalence, according to the CDC survey:

1. Louisiana, 36.2
2. Alabama, 35.6
3. Mississippi, 35.6
4. West Virginia, 35.6
5. Kentucky, 34.6
6. Arkansas, 34.5
7. Kansas, 34.2
8. Oklahoma, 33.9
9. Tennessee, 33.8
10. Missouri, 32.4
11. Texas, 32.4
12. Iowa, 32.1
13. South Carolina, 31.7
14. Guam, 31.6
15. Nebraska, 31.4
16. Indiana, 31.3
17. Michigan, 31.2
18. North Dakota, 31
19. Illinois, 30.8
20. Georgia, 30.7
21. Wisconsin, 30.7
22. South Dakota, 30.4
23. North Carolina, 30.1
24. Oregon, 30.1
25. Maine, 30
26. Pennsylvania, 30
27. Alaska, 29.8
28. Ohio, 29.8
29. Delaware, 29.7
30. Puerto Rico, 29.5
31. Virginia, 29.2
32. Wyoming, 29
33. Maryland, 28.9
34. New Mexico, 28.8
35. Idaho, 28.6
36. Arizona, 28.4
37. Florida, 26.8
38. Nevada, 26.7
39. Washington, 26.4
40. New Hampshire, 26.3
41. Minnesota, 26.1
42. Rhode Island, 26
43. New Jersey, 25.6
44. Connecticut, 25.3
45. Vermont, 25.1
46. New York, 25
47. Utah, 24.5
48. Massachusetts, 24.3
49. California, 24.2
50. Montana, 23.6
51. Hawaii, 22.7
52. District of Columbia, 22.1
53. Colorado, 20.2

But Wait, There's More

Wisconsin data on adults and adolescents paint a somewhat ominous picture of health for its residents. According to state data, grown-ups come up way short when consuming fruits and vegetebales, and more than a third of Wisconsinites are overweight.

Dietary Behaviors

37.8% of adults reported consuming fruit less than one time daily.
25.8% of adults reported consuming vegetables less than one time daily.

Physical Activity

53.4% of adults achieved the equivalent of at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week.

Overweight and Obesity

36.2% of adults were overweight.
31.2% of adults had obesity.

According to state data, adolescents are getting more exercise, are as a group less overweight and eat fruit more frequently compared with their adult counterparts.

Dietary Behaviors

32.1% of adolescents reported consuming fruit less than one time daily.
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Physical Activity

24.0% of adolescents were physically active at least 60 minutes per day on all 7 days in the past week.

Overweight and Obesity

13.0% of adolescents were overweight.
11.6% of adolescents had obesity.

Photo provided by CDC/ Debora Cartagena