Missourians are losing the battle of the bulge

(KMOX) — New national obesity numbers show Missourians aren't doing a very good job keeping the weight off.

In its annual report, Trust for America's Health lists the Missouri adult obesity rate as the ninth highest in the nation — hitting 35% for the very first time. Between 2017 and 2018, Missouri was one of seven states that had statistically significant increases. Since 2013, Missouri's adult obesity rates have increased by more than 15%.

"For us in Missouri, we are no different than some other parts of the country," said Dr. Jennifer Wessels, a family medicine physician and VP of Medical Affairs for SSM Health Medical Group. "We are becoming more and more sedentary, we are not exercising as much, we are not being as active, we are relying a lot on fast foods and unhealthy foods that are high in calories and we are not burning them off."

So what should we be doing?

"The best things to do for anybody, no matter what your age or where you live in the country, is to be as active as possible," Dr. Wessels tells KMOX. "Either with a regular exercise routine or just in your daily life. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator if you are able. Parking your car a little farther away and getting in some extra steps during the day."

"In terms of your diet, eating healthy fruits and vegetables as often as you can, lean meats if you are a meat-eater, and trying to stay away from high-calorie foods, fast food, candy and junk food will help," said Dr. Wessels.

Illinois had a 31.8% adult obesity rate. That's 24th highest in the nation.

Dr. Wessels says she has noticed the patients coming into her office have been getting heavier and heavier.

"Yes, for sure, especially in the last decade," said Dr. Wessels. "It used to be relatively rare, but now it's becoming more and more common. But it's also becoming more and more common to see people coming into my office who are asking questions about how to get healthy and how to lose weight."

In Missouri, the following percentages of demographics are considered obese:

  • 41.9% of African American
  • 37.1% of Latinx adults
  • 32% of white adults
  • 34.4% of men
  • 35.7% of women

In Illinois:

  • 40.1% of African American adults
  • 35.6% of Latinx adults
  • 30.8% of white adults
  • 30.1% of men
  • 33.2% of women

The latest childhood obesity numbers show in 2017, 12.7% of Missouri kids between 10 and 17 were listed as obese, while 16.6% of Missouri high schoolers fit that classification. In Illinois, the obesity rate was 16.2% for children 10-17 and 14.8% for high school students.

Mississippi and West Virginia tied for the highest adult obesity rate at 39.5%. Colorado had the lowest adult obesity rate at 23%.

View the full report here:

2019 Obesity Report by EntercomSTL on Scribd