A new report released by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has revealed that obesity rates are on the climb once more across the United States.
The seventh annual 'F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future – 2010' report showed that average adult rates increased in 28 states over the past year, with 38 states having obesity rates above 25 per cent.
According to the study, 15 states experienced an increase in the rate of adult obesity for the second consecutive year, with 11 states seeing an increase for the third straight year.
For the sixth year in a row, Mississippi had the highest rate of obese adults weighing in at 33.8 per cent, while Colorado has the lowest rate at 19.1 per cent – the only state with an obesity rate lower than 20 per cent.
In addition to the annual rankings, the 2010 report features discussions about the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption to maintaining a healthy weight, as well as for child growth and chronic disease prevention.
'Eating more fruits and vegetables in place of options that are higher in fat and calories is an important step in losing weight and keeping it off,' noted Elizabeth Pivonka, CEO of the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH).
'Fruits and vegetables play important roles in the process of weight loss and weight maintenance,' she added. 'Not only because they are low in calories but also because they provide a wide range of valuable nutrients like vitamins and potassium. They are also high in fibre and water, so eating them will keep you feeling full for longer.'
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