Even so, obesity rates here are climbing.
A patient underges a blood test for diabetes. The number of adults worldwide with diabetes has more than doubled in three decades, jumping to an estimated 347 million, a new study says. In the United States, however, Massachusetts is ranked as the 4th thinnest state in the nation.BOSTON – Massachusetts is still one of the thinnest states in the country even as waistlines are continuing to expand across the Bay State.
A new study has ranked Massachusetts the fourth least obese state, behind Connecticut, the District of Columbia and the state with the lowest adult obesity rate, Colorado.
Even so, obesity rates here are climbing.
The study by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found Massachusetts’ adult obesity rate is now 22.3 percent.
Fifteen years ago, Massachusetts was still the fourth thinnest state in the country, but had an obesity rate of 11.6 percent.
That’s an increase of more than 90 percent.
The greater levels of obesity have led to a rise in related health problems including higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure.
In 1995, Massachusetts had a diabetes rate of 4.5 percent. Now the diabetes rate is 7.5 percent. Diabetes rates have doubled in 10 states over the past 15 years.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is also up.
Fifteen years ago, Massachusetts had a hypertension rate of 22.1 percent. Now, the rate is 25.6 percent.
The study found blacks and Hispanics in Massachusetts have higher obesity rates than white residents.
For whites, the adult obesity rate was 21.8 percent in Massachusetts compared to 30.5 percent for blacks and 29.1 percent for Hispanics.
The state did win some praise for taking steps to curb obesity.
The report found that Massachusetts was among 20 states with school meal standards that are stricter than the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Massachusetts is also among 26 states with farm-to-school programs. Five years ago, only New York had a law establishing a farm-to-school program.