Obesity Rate In Wisconsin Remains High

An annual, national report shows that Wisconsin’s obesity rate is still high, though it’s leveling off after having been on a steady climb for years.

According to the report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Wisconsin’s obesity rate now ranks 22nd nationally, with nearly 30 percent of adults considered obese.

“The good news is we we may not have gone down, but we didn’t continue the long-term trend of going up,” said Patrick Remington, associate dean for public health at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine.

Around the rest of the country, no state saw a decline in obesity, and the rate increased in two states, West Virginia and Mississippi.

The nation’s weight has been steadily rising over time. As of 30 years ago, no state had an obesity rate over 20 percent, but that quickly changed.

“In 1991, no state was been above 20 percent, and in 2000 no state was above 25 percent,” said Jeff Levi, executive director of Trust for America’s Health. “So the rise was dramatic and quick.”

Nationally, Levi said childhood obesity rates have remained the same for the last 10 years. A study last summer, however, showed that 18 states had declining obesity in preschoolers. Remington said while he believes that the trend likely extends to Wisconsin, that hasn’t been statistically confirmed.

“We’re working on that,” said Remington. “There’s a new program that will be trying to monitor trends in childhood obesity rates and that will allow us to find those communities that are actually doing the right things.”

Both Remington and Levi say the focus on reducing obesity needs to be on children. Research has shown people who aren’t obese as children tend to maintain a healthy weight later on in life.