‘F as in Fat’ Report: Latinos Among the Fattest Americans

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Adult obesity rates increased in 16 states in the past year and did not decline in any state, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2011, a report from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

Twelve states now have obesity rates above 30% (vs. only one four years ago).

Racial/ethnic minorities continue to have the highest overall obesity rates:

• Latino adult obesity rates topped 35% in four states (Mississippi, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Texas) and at least 30% in 23 states.
• Black adult obesity rates topped 40% in 15 states, 35% in 35 states, and 30% in 42 states and D.C.
• Meanwhile, white adult obesity rates topped 30% in just four states (Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia) and no state had a rate higher than 32.1%.

Nearly 33% of adults who did not graduate high school are obese, compared with 21.5% of those who graduated from college or technical college. Also, more than 33% of adults who earn less than $15,000 per year were obese, compared with 24.6% of those who earn at least $50,000 per year.

This year’s report also includes a series of recommendations from TFAH and RWJF on how policymakers and the food and beverage industry can help reverse the obesity epidemic.

Read a summary of results and recommendations here.