Mississippi has been named the fattest state in America for the third year in a row.
A new review, compiled by WalletHub, determined the Magnolia State to be the worst when it came to the percentage of adults and children who are obese, have high blood pressure and are physically inactive.
Mississippi was followed by states in the southern US: West Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Once again, Colorado took the top grade as the fittest US state, followed by another two Western states (Utah and Hawaii) and two in the East (Massachusetts and the District of Columbia).
To reach its findings, WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions: obesity and overweight prevalence, health consequences, and food and fitness.
The study looked at several categories including the share of obese adults and children, projected diabetes cases by 2030, heart disease rate, fast food restaurants per capita, and the share of physically inactive adults.
After assessing each city’s provisions, the researchers provided grades out of 100, with a higher grade indicating a worse score.
Colorado earned 44.35 out of 100 while Mississippi scored 72.97 out of 100.
OBESITY AND OVERWEIGHT PREVALENCE
In 2016, 71 percent of Mississippi’s adults were overweight or obese while only about 22.6 percent of adults in Colorado are overweight or obeae
Mississippi had the highest percentage of obese adults, while Connecticut had the lowest at 22.6 percent.
In 2016, 71 percent of Mississippi’s adults were overweight or obese, according to a report from the state’s Department of Health.
Experts say the high rate of obesity is due to several reasons including more adults in the South with low levels of educations, health care access, insurance, and health education, compared to the Northeast.
Mississippi also had the highest rate of obese children at 26.1 percent while New Hampshire had the lowest at 9.8 percent
Mississippi also had the highest rate of obese children while New Hampshire had the lowest.
Last month, a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that while New Hampshire’s rate fell below the national average at 9.8 percent, Mississippi’s was above the national average at 26.1 percent.
The rate of childhood obesity has tripled since the 1970s, affecting one in five children in the US and 14 percent of those between ages two and four years old, according to data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
Childhood obesity is now the number one health concern among parents in the US, topping drug abuse and smoking.
Being obese at such as young age can increase the risk of several health problems including heart disease, kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes and stroke, as well as elevating the risk for obesity in adulthood.
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES
Mississippi also came in first when in the highest percentage of adults with high blood pressure with more than 40 percent battling the condition
Mississippi also had the highest percentage of adults with high blood pressure with more than 40 percent battling the condition.
Persistent high blood pressure can increase the risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, such as heart disease, heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
Coming in first for the lowest percentage of adults with high blood pressure was Minnesota at 26.3 percent.
For the adults that do have hypertension in The North Star State, health officials say most have it under control.
In 2015, the Minnesota Department of Health reported that 79 percent of adults were taking medications prescribed by their doctor to reduce their blood pressure.
FOOD AND FITNESS
Arkansas was named the state with the highest share of physically inactive adults while Colorado had the lowest
When it came to the highest share of physically inactive adults, Arkansas was on top with every other state – aside from New Jersey – also falling in the South.
The state does not require physical education time in high schools had does not regulate a standard for the schools that have it – likely creating behaviors that continue into adulthood.
Meanwhile, Colorado came in first of the lowest percentage with every state following it, aside from the District of Columbia, being in the West.
Several studies have shown that lack of physical activity can increase the risk of certain cancer, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Exercise can also help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
This is because physical activity produces endorphins, hormones in the body that act as natural painkillers.
Additionally, southern states had the highest percentage of adults with high cholesterol, with Alabama taking the top spot.
This is likely due to the Southern diet, which consists of well-known dishes such as fried chicken and waffles, grits, buttermilk biscuits, cornbread, sweet tea, mashed potatoes and a variety of pies.
A mix of Scottish, Irish, African, Native American and Caribbean influences, the food grew from a culture of family get-togethers, passing large servings of indulgent, warming dishes around the table.