Obesity is a big health issue in the U.S., impacting millions of Americans and raising the chances of long-term illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
A recent report from Trust for America’s Health shows that 38.7% of adults in Arkansas are obese, making it the sixth-worst state in the country for obesity. The report also says that obesity rates in Arkansas went up from 36.4% in 2020 to 38.7% in 2021.
The Worst City for Obesity in Arkansas
The study looks at how fat people are in different cities using information from a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This survey asks adults about their health habits.
According to the report, the area around Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway has the highest obesity rate in Arkansas, with 42.8% of people being obese. This is more than twice the average for the whole country, which is 19.5%.
The report also mentions that this area has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in Arkansas, with 23.9% of adults saying they sometimes don’t have enough money to buy food.
Not having enough money for food can make people become obese because they might not be able to buy healthy food. Instead, they might eat foods that have lots of calories, fat, sugar, and salt. Not having enough money for food can also make it hard for people to do physical activities outside and make them rely more on transportation or delivery services.
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What Can Be Done to Reduce Obesity Rates?
The report suggests some ideas for policies to tackle problems related to obesity at the national, state, and local levels. Here are a few of these recommendations:
1. Give more money to programs that help prevent obesity and related health issues. These programs could include things like promoting physical activity, teaching about good nutrition, offering screenings and counseling, and assisting with medications.
2. Make sure all students have access to healthy meals at school. This could involve keeping the changes made during the COVID-19 pandemic that helped students and families access nutritious food. It also means improving nutrition standards in schools and giving students more chances to be active.
3. Make it easier for people to get affordable and healthy food. This could involve things like community gardens, farmers markets, food banks, mobile markets, and other strategies.
4. Encourage healthy eating habits for both kids and adults through things like media campaigns, social marketing efforts, food labeling requirements, and taxes on sugary drinks and foods high in saturated fat and sodium.
5. Support research to find effective ways to prevent and treat obesity in different groups and settings.
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Some Other Cities With High Obesity Rates
The following are a few US cities with high obesity rates:
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
In 2023, this city had the highest obesity rate in the U.S. at 44.9%. It’s near the US-Mexico border and has many Hispanic residents.
Several things make people here more likely to be obese, like having less money, not many healthy food choices, not many chances to exercise, and a preference for high-calorie foods in the culture.
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
In 2023, this city was the second fattest in America, with 43.8% of its residents being obese. It’s located in the southwest part of Louisiana and has a mix of people.
Several things make people in this city more likely to be obese, like not having much education, lots of poverty, not many chances to eat healthy, not many ways to be active, and problems like air pollution and traffic.
Memphis, TN-MS-AR
In 2023, the people in this city had a high obesity rate of 42.8%, making it the third fattest city in America. This city spans three states: Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
The city is famous for its music and culture. Some reasons why many people here are overweight include low income, a high poverty rate, not many healthy food choices, limited chances for physical activity, and a genetic tendency to have belly fat.
Read More:Â This City Has Been Named the Poorest City in Maryland
Final Words
Since obesity is a complicated problem with many underlying causes and effects, a multifaceted strategy is needed to manage it. We can make America a healthier place for all by putting into practice evidence-based policies that encourage healthy behaviors at the individual, community, and society levels.
