The state of Connecticut has the fourth lowest obesity rate in the nation, according to a recent Gallup poll report.
Last week, Gallup released its annual Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which found that more than one in four Americans are obese. According to the report, the national obesity rate in 2012 was 26.2 percent, up slightly from 26.1 percent in 2011, and a bit more significantly from the 2008 average of 25.5 percent.
“More than two in 10 adults are obese in all but one U.S. state,” the report states. In five states, “more than three in 10 adults are obese,” it continues. Nationally, the states with the lowest obesity rates were generally found in the West and Northeast regions, while the states with the highest rates were found in the Southern and Midwestern regions, according to the report. The rankings are based on self-reported height and weight data, which were used to calculate Body Mass Index Scores. People with a BMI of 20 30 (sorry for the earlier typo) or higher are classified as obese.
Here’s the breakdown of the Top 10 States with the Lowest Obesity Rates:
And the 10 states with the highest obesity rates:
Wonder how our neck of the woods stacks up against other metropolitan areas across the state and nation? Pretty well, according to Gallup. Connecticut was ranked as hacing the fourth best physical health index score. Here’s how some of the local areas ranked in that index:
- The Stamford-Bridgeport metropolitan statistical area was named the No. 10 metropolitan area of all 189 MSAs measured by the census, up from No. 18 in 2011.
- The Norwich-New London MSA was ranked No. 18, up from No. 116 in 2011.
- The Hartford-East Hartford-West Hartford MSA came in at No. 63, up from No. 83 in 2011.
- The New Haven area came in at No. 86, up from No. 93 in 2011.
You’re right. I changed that. Thank you for pointing it out.
“People with a BMI of 20 or higher are classified as obese.” I think this is a typo – 30 or higher is classified as an obese BMI, whereas 20 would be on the lower end of healthy.