The report warns that the problem is only getting worse. From 2007 to 2009, 2.4 million more adults became overweight. And because obesity is tied to a number of illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes and certain kinds of cancer, the medical costs of a person suffering from obesity are $1,429 more than a person of average weight.
Although the numbers of adults who are obese vary from state to state, the lowest percentage of obesity does not fall below 18% in any single state. The average is more than 25%.
The obesity problem has reached an inflection point and it may now be the most serious health issue facing the nation. Reflecting on this crisis, the First Lady launched the “Let’s Move” project, encouraging exercise to fight childhood obesity. Similarly, state and federal government programs have been sponsored to encourage a healthier lifestyle.
24/7 Wall St. looked at the percentage of obesity in each state and compared it to the state’s population, as reported by the 2009 census. We then took the total population suffering from obesity and multiplied that number by $1,429. The following is the rate of obesity by state, highest to lowest, and the possible cost to treat obesity-related illnesses by state.
Colorado
*Population: 5,024,748
*Number Of Obese: 934,603
*Cost: $1,335,547,869
District of Columbia
*Population: 599,657
*Number Of Obese: 118,132
*Cost: $1,035,692,511
Connecticut
*Population: 3,518,288
*Number Of Obese: 724,767
*Cost: $1,035,692,511
Massachusetts
*Population: 6,593,587
*Number Of Obese: 1,411,027
*Cost: $2,016,358,466
Hawaii
*Population: 1,295,178
*Number Of Obese: 288,824
*Cost: $412,730,487
Vermont
*Population: 621,760
*Number Of Obese: 141,767
*Cost: $202,576,869
Oregon
*Population: 3,825,657
*Number Of Obese: 879,901
*Cost: $1,257,378,686
Montana
*Population: 974,989
*Number Of Obese: 226,197
*Cost: $323,236,153
New Jersey
*Population: 8,707,739
*Number Of Obese: 2,028,903
*Cost: $2,899,302,654
Utah
*Population: 2,784,572
*Number Of Obese: 654,274
*Cost: $935,101,046
New York
*Population: 19,541,453
*Number Of Obese: 4,729,031
*Cost: $6,757,786,193
Virginia
*Population: 7,882,590
*Number Of Obese: 1,907,586
*Cost: $2,725,941,508
Idaho
*Population: 1,545,801
*Number Of Obese: 378,721
*Cost: $541,192,659
Minnesota
*Population: 5,266,214
*Number Of Obese: 1,295,488
*Cost: $1,851,253,272
Rhode Island
*Population: 1,053,209
*Number Of Obese: 259,089
*Cost: $370,238,772
Wyoming
*Population: 544,270
*Number Of Obese: 133,890
*Cost: $191,329,410
Alaska
*Population: 698,473
*Number Of Obese: 173,221
*Cost: $247,533,243
California
*Population: 36,961,664
*Number Of Obese: 9,166,492
*Cost: $13,098,918,028
New Mexico
*Population: 2,009,671
*Number Of Obese: 504,427
*Cost: $720,826,784
Florida
*Population: 18,537,969
*Number Of Obese: 4,671,568
*Cost: $6,675,670,940
Arizona
*Population: 6,595,778
*Number Of Obese: 1,681,923
*Cost: $2,403,468,524
New Hampshire
*Population: 1,324,575
*Number Of Obese: 340,415
*Cost: $486,454,142
Maine
*Population: 1,318,301
*Number Of Obese: 340,121
*Cost: $486,033,849
Nevada
*Population: 2,643,085
*Number Of Obese: 681,915
*Cost: $974,457,863
Maryland
*Population: 5,699,478
*Number Of Obese: 1,493,264
*Cost: $2,133,873,164
Washington
*Population: 6,664,195
*Number Of Obese: 1,759,347
*Cost: $2,514,107,548
Illinois
*Population: 12,910,409
*Number Of Obese: 3,421,258
*Cost: $4,888,978,232
Delaware
*Population: 885,122
*Number Of Obese: 238,982
*Cost: $341,506,621
Georgia
*Population: 9,829,211
*Number Of Obese: 2,673,545
*Cost: $3,820,496,356
Nebraska
*Population: 1,796,619
*Number Of Obese: 490,476
*Cost: $700,891,614
Pennsylvania
*Population: 12,604,767
*Number Of Obese: 3,453,706
*Cost: $4,935,346,099
Iowa
*Population: 3,007,856
*Number Of Obese: 839,191
*Cost: $1,199,205,116
North Dakota
*Population: 646,844
*Number Of Obese: 180,191
*Cost: $257,890,881
Kansas
*Population: 2,818,747
*Number Of Obese: 792,067
*Cost: $1,131,865,039
Texas
*Population: 24,782,302
*Number Of Obese: 7,112,520
*Cost: $10,163,792,043
Wisconsin
*Population: 5,654,774
*Number Of Obese: 1,622,920
*Cost: $2,319,152,877
Ohio
*Population: 11,542,645
*Number Of Obese: 3,324,281
*Cost: $4,750,398,635
North Carolina
*Population: 9,380,884
*Number Of Obese: 2,748,599
*Cost: $3,927,747,988
South Carolina
*Population: 4,561,242
*Number Of Obese: 1,341,005
*Cost: $1,916,296,356
Indiana
*Population: 6,423,113
*Number Of Obese: 1,894,818
*Cost: $2,707,695,400
Michigan
*Population: 9,969,727
*Number Of Obese: 2,951,039
*Cost: $4,217,035,005
South Dakota
*Population: 812,383
*Number Of Obese: 240,465
*Cost: $343,635,010
Missouri
*Population: 5,987,580
*Number Of Obese: 1,796,274
*Cost: $2,566,875,546
Arkansas
*Population: 2,889,450
*Number Of Obese: 881,282
*Cost: $1,259,352,335
Alabama
*Population: 4,708,708
*Number Of Obese: 1,459,699
*Cost: $2,085,910,556
West Virginia
*Population: 1,819,777
*Number Of Obese: 565,950
*Cost: $808,743,474
Oklahoma
*Population: 3,687,050
*Number Of Obese: 1,157,733
*Cost: $1,654,401,457
Kentucky
*Population: 4,314,113
*Number Of Obese: 1,358,945
*Cost: $1,941,933,255
Tennessee
*Population: 6,296,254
*Number Of Obese: 2,033,690
*Cost: $2,906,143,070
Louisiana
*Population: 4,492,076
*Number Of Obese: 1,482,385
*Cost: $2,906,143,070
Mississippi
*Population: 2,951,996
*Number Of Obese: 1,015,486
*Cost: $1,451,130,385
Ashley C. Allen
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