A new Gallup poll shows that just over 27 percent of adults in the United States are obese, the highest rate since the measure was tracked beginning in 2008.
That rate includes a new high among those considered “morbidly obese.”
The current Gallup data doesn’t include a state-by-state breakdown, but does compare age groups, income and other demographics.
For example, Americans with lower incomes tend to have higher rates of obesity than those with annual incomes of more than $90,000.
The poll also includes regions of the United States, with the Midwest ticking up another point since last year to more than 28.6 percent – higher than the national average by over one percentage point.
For purposes of the survey, obesity rates were calculated using Body Mass Index of height and weight, with self-reported data; perhaps not the most accurate method, depending on the respondents’ honesty.
So many factors contribute to obesity, including our sedentary lifestyles (how many hours per day do you sit?) and eating highly processed foods over fruits and vegetables.
Find a simple BMI calculator here and more about Gallup’s obesity findings.
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