More than seven in 10 American adults are overweight or struggle with obesity. The problem also affects residents of the Midwest, though the scale varies markedly from state to state. In the latest ranking by WalletHub, Illinois placed 32nd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Ohio fared worst in the region, while Minnesota posted the best result.
Which Midwestern States Have the Biggest Obesity Problem?
The WalletHub study compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The analysis covered 31 indicators related to overweight, obesity, health consequences, access to food and opportunities for physical activity.
The report shows that more than 70 percent of American adults age 20 and older are overweight or have obesity. The problem is also growing among children and teenagers, and its scale has increased significantly in recent decades.
Among Midwestern states, Ohio ranked highest on the unfavorable list, placing 15th nationwide. It was followed by North Dakota, Michigan and Indiana.
Illinois placed 32nd, ahead of South Dakota and Minnesota, among others.
Minnesota had the best result in the region, placing 47th. Contributing factors included relatively low shares of children with obesity, adults who lead sedentary lifestyles and people with high cholesterol.
Deep-dish pizza and fried cheese: the region’s favorite foods
The study’s authors also looked at Americans’ eating habits. They checked which dishes residents of each state most often choose as so-called comfort food, meaning food that lifts one’s mood.
In Illinois, the undisputed favorite turned out to be deep-dish pizza, a Chicago specialty. According to the ranking, one serving has 329 calories.
Popular dishes in other states of the region include:
– Indiana – sugar cream pie (400 calories).
– Iowa – loose meat sandwiches (278 calories).
– Michigan – pasties, stuffed dough pockets (768 calories).
– Minnesota – tater tot casserole (410 calories).
– North Dakota – kuchen, a traditional cake (400 calories).
– Ohio – buckeyes candy (362 calories).
– South Dakota – chislic, pieces of fried meat (206 calories).
– Wisconsin – fried cheese curds (1,190 calories).
Wisconsin stands out in particular, as its residents’ favorite snack is also the highest in calories on the regional list.
West Virginia in First Place; Colorado With the Best Result
In the nationwide ranking, West Virginia fared worst and was deemed the state with the biggest problem with overweight and obesity. Mississippi took second place, followed by Arkansas, Louisiana and Alabama.
The top 10 was rounded out by Tennessee, Kentucky, Maine, Delaware and Texas.
At the opposite end of the list was Colorado, which had the best result in the country. Low overweight rates were also recorded in Utah, Massachusetts and Hawaii.
The results show that obesity remains a serious health challenge in the United States, and that differences between regions of the country are clear.
Source: Polski.FM
