Gallup and Healthways determined obesity rates using self-reported height and weight to calculate each survey respondent’s body mass index. Americans with a BMI of 30 or higher are considered obese. More than 176,000 people were surveyed.
For reference, the national obesity rate in 2014 was 27.7 percent, up from 27.1 percent in 2013 and considerably higher than the 25.5 percent found in the 2008 survey.
The 10 metropolitan areas with the highest rates of obesity are:
1. Baton Rogue, La. — 35.9 percent
2. Harrisburg, Pa. — 35.3 percent
3. Little Rock, Ark. — 34.1 percent
4. Tulsa, Okla. — 33.5 percent
5. Dayton, Ohio — 33.5 percent
6. Memphis, Tenn. — 33.2 percent
7. Toledo, Ohio — 33.1 percent
8. Bakersfield, Calif. — 33.1 percent
9. Worcester, Mass. — 33 percent
10. Indianapolis — 32.2 percent
The 10 metropolitan areas with the lowest rates of obesity are:
1. Colorado Springs, Colo. — 19.6 percent
2. San Jose, Calif. — 19.8 percent
3. Denver — 20.3 percent
4. Provo, Utah — 20.5 percent
5. Bridgeport, Conn. — 21 percent
6. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii — 21.2 percent
7. Boston — 21.3 percent
8. Sarasota, Fla. — 21.4 percent
9. Palm Bay, Fla. — 21.8 percent
10. San Francisco — 21.9 percent
The survey results also revealed an association between obesity rates and physical well-being, risk of health problems, as well as social, financial and community well-being.
More articles on obesity:
Obesity could cost the US $1.1 trillion
Among diabetes patients, being overweight may mean living longer
Childhood obesity reduced by motivational interviewing in primary care
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