Obesity is High in West Virginia

A report says West Virginia had the second-highest rate of obesity among adults in the nation. The report was released Monday by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It found that West Virginia had an obesity rate of 35.7 percent, second only to Arkansas’ 35.9 percent rate. Mississippi was third at 35.5 percent. West Virginia and Mississippi tied for first last year. Colorado had the lowest rate at 21.3 percent. The report said obesity was prevalent in about 40 percent of West Virginians ages 26 to 64, and 31 percent of residents age 65 and older. The report ranks West Virginia first in adult diabetes and hypertension.