Published: July 06, 2009 05:21 pm      

A growing problem — W.Va. obesity rate third in the nation

A new national study is calling West Virginia the third-most overweight state in the country. It’s an alarming report that should be viewed as a call to action for state officials.

According to the study by the Trust for America’s Health, 31.1 percent of adults in the Mountain State are now obese, and almost 68 percent are either obese or overweight. West Virginia was ranked as the nation’s second-most obese state in the same study just a year ago.

Mississippi topped the study for the fifth consecutive year as the nation’s most obese state. The report found that Colorado is the nation’s skinniest state.

Nationwide, the study found that adult obesity rates grew in 23 states last year, and did not decline anywhere, according to an Associated Press report.

While the Mountain State did drop one spot in the latest study — Alabama is now ranked second with West Virginia third — the news is certainly nothing to celebrate.

Obesity is a serious health concern in young and old alike. According to the Centers for Disease Control, obesity is linked to several health risks, including high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, respiratory problems and some cancers.

While schools in the Mountain State have made important changes in recent years, including the removal of junk food from school menus, obesity among youngsters in West Virginia is still a serious concern. The study concludes that reversing a trend of childhood obesity will not only improve the health and quality of life for youngsters, but also save millions in health care costs.

The new report also links growing waistlines with the national economic downturn. Food prices, particularly for more nutritious foods, have increased, making it more difficult for families to eat healthy food in tough economic times, the report found. The problem is further complicated across the nation by a growing number of unemployed, uninsured and underinsured.

With 31.1 percent of all adults in West Virginia now considered obese, health care officials across the Mountain State should view the latest study from the Trust for America’s Health as a call to action. Burying our heads in the sand, and ignoring the latest study, won’t solve the problem.

Obesity must be considered a high-priority concern in West Virginia. It’s a problem that didn’t develop overnight, and it’s a problem that won’t be solved with a crash diet.

Health care professionals, school officials and state leaders must take a serious look at lifestyles in the Mountain State, and long-standing cultural patterns — including deep-fried foods, cholesterol-laden meals and chronic tobacco usage — that have contributed to generations of health concerns.

We must take steps today to ensure slimmer waistlines across the Mountain State. We cannot — and must not — remain the third most obese state in the nation.