Colorado ranks as least obese state in the country

WalletHub recently released a ranking of the most overweight and obese states in America, and Colorado (unsurprisingly) ranked at the bottom of the list (which in this case, is a good thing).

According to WalletHub, being overweight is unfortunately turning into the “new normal” in America. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that four in ten U.S. adults aged 20 and older are obese. WalletHub also reports that lack of physical activity is one of the leading causes of obesity, along with factors like genetics, emotional instability, and sleeplessness.

Although obesity is present across the entire country, it persists the most prevalently in certain states, which is what WalletHub set out to discover.

To create the rankings, WalletHub evaluated the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions – obesity and overweight prevalence, health consequences, and food and fitness. Metrics to evaluate the dimensions included the share of obese and overweight population, sugary-beverage consumption among adolescents, and obesity-related healthcare costs.

Colorado ranked as the very least overweight and obese state in the U.S. The Centennial State ranked 51st for obesity and overweight prevalence, 47th for health consequences, and 50th for food and fitness rank.

Given Colorado’s reputation as being home to a culture that encourages outdoor recreation while exploring the high-elevation environment amid ample sunshine, it makes sense that the state would rank high among the least obese states. Staying active in Colorado tends to be convenient and doesn’t have to cost a lot.

Colorado also ranked among the states with the lowest percentage of adults with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

The top most overweight states were West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alabama.

Check out the full rankings of WalletHub’s most overweight and obese states in America here.


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