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Report: Iowa’s adult obesity rate balloons to 37%, among worst in US

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September 21st, 2023 by Jim Field

A new national health study gives Iowa poor marks for its efforts to try and keep in shape. According to the report from Trust for America’s Health, Iowa is among 22 states with an adult obesity rate at or above 35-percent. Nadine Gracia (GRAH-see-ah), director of government relations for the trust, says Iowans are in worse condition than in most other states.

While 22 states had adult obesity rate at or above 35 percent this year, Gracia says there were 19 states in that category last year, including Iowa, while a decade ago, there were -no- states at that level. She says it’s a dangerous trend for the nation, and for Iowa.

The lessons for getting fit are familiar — they revolve around diet and exercise — but Gracia says it doesn’t stop there.

The trust’s “State of Obesity” report shows West Virginia has the highest rate of adult obesity at 41-percent, while Colorado has the lowest rate at 25-percent.