Hawaii’s obesity rate ranks fifth lowest in U.S.

A new report finds Hawaii has the fifth lowest rate of adult obesity in the U.S. “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009,” a study compiled by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found 21.8 percent of Hawaii’s adult population are considered obese.

Southern states reported the highest rates of obesity, the study found. Eight of the top ten most obese states were in the South, with Mississippi at number one, with 32.5 percent of adults overweight.

Unfortunately, Hawaii fared worse in its rate of obese children ages 10-17. The state ranked 37th with 28.5 percent. In all, 30 states reported childhood obesity rates of 30 percent or higher.

According to the study, obesity rates are rising nationwide with 23 states reporting an increase in adult obesity and no states reporting a decrease. The study attributes the increasing rates to factors such as economic conditions that may result in higher food prices and increased levels of depression and stress, which have been linked to obesity.