Americans continue, despite warnings to get fatter

If there is a war on obesity – we are loosing. According to a national survey of all 50 states not a single one got any skinnier this year.

Even the nation’s thinnest state, Colorado, has not too much to brag about. At a obesity rate of 19.8% this state would have been ranked the most obese just 16 years ago. Back then the fattest state, Mississippi had an obesity rate of 19.4%.

Why are people ignoring their weight?

Despite all of the education and preventative medicine now available to help people loose weight liver healthy lifestyles our nation continues to get bigger. Genetics only account for a small portion of the problem – and cannot be blamed for the rapid increase in waist sizes over the years. Experts say the real problem is environment.

“Our genes haven’t changed that much in thousands of years, but we have seen a rapid change in the environment, and that has interacted with our genetic propensity toward obesity,” said Dr. Steve Smith, an obesity expert and scientific director of the Florida Hospital Sanford Burnham Translational Research Institute, in Orlando.

Our food culture is largely made up of fast, packaged and convenience foods combined with large portions. Even “health” foods and beverages such as Vitamin Water, snack bars, and low-fat products are loaded with sugar and other chemicals which promote weight gain.

Now, with a growing number of obese children experts think that this problem will only continue to get worse in the future.

“Once kids are obese, these behaviors are entrenched, and it’s much more difficult,” said Dr. Carolyn Bradner Jasik, researcher on childhood obesity, to Reuters Health.

How Florida Measures Up

Although Florida ranks midway between the nation’s thinnest and fattest state at #29, the numbers are still staggering. Two out of every three adults are either overweight or obese. In fact, the obesity rate in Florida has increased by 80% since 1995.

Talk to Your Physician

Being overweight places you at risk for many factors including cancer, diabetes, heart disease and more. Talk to your physician about choosing a safe and effective way to loose weight. Never begin a weight loss program without consulting your healthcare provider first.