NEW: Obesity Rates Nationwide Shows RI’s Rate Increasing

Friday, July 08, 2011

Nate Holterman, GoLocalProv Contributor

The news is not good.

Obesity rates nationwide continue to rise according to a new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The report, “F as in Fat,” illustrates a continuing trend towards an America rife with an unhealthy, overweight population. Weight gain is not the only negative increase this report noted. In fact, physical inactivity has risen and the rates of diabetes and hypertension have climbed alongside. These new figures are particularly shocking given that only 20 years ago, not one single state had an obesity rate above 15%. Currently, all 50 of the United States are well above that mark.

Rhode Island's obesity numbers: good news and bad

In comparison to the rest of the country, Rhode Island is relatively low in the rankings of obesity. According to the report, 24.3% of the state’s population is overweight, making Rhode Island the 42nd most obese state in the nation. And while Rhode Islanders may whoop and cheer over their low ranking in the list, the report also notes that obesity has risen 1.4% from 2007 to 2010, the highest increase in the rates of obesity among any state. It is evident that Rhode Island is following the overall trend of the entire United States as obesity rates continue to climb higher and higher. These numbers do not appear to be changing anytime soon as Rhode Island’s childhood obesity rates among children 10 thru 17 is 14.4%. That puts Rhode Island as the 28th highest state with childhood obesity.

Diabetes, inactivity, hypertension

Rhode Island’s incidence rate of diabetes is 7.4%, slotting the state at 38th in the nation. Rhode Island is right in the middle of the pack when it comes to physical inactivity. The report notes that 24.4% of the population did not engage in any form of exercise or physical activity over the past 30 days, which puts Rhode Island’s rankings at 25th. Alarmingly, the highest ranking Rhode Island falls under is hypertension. Roughly 28.3% of Rhode Island natives suffer from high blood pressure which puts the state at 19th among the 50. Diabetes and hypertension, health professionals have warned, would rise with increasing rates of obesity. The fact that Rhode Island stands at 19th in the nation for hypertension, could offer a grim account of Rhode Island’s future health.

The reports calls for serious measures to stall the trend. The authors cite increased physical activity in schools and broadening access and awareness to affordable healthy foods. Obesity is tightly linked to poverty so the report also calls for “pricing strategies” to encourage Americans to make better food choices.

For the entire report, go here.