Kentucky has the fifth highest obesity rate in the nation.
The commonwealth also has the dubious distinction of being only one of two states that saw an increase in obesity levels between 2014 and last year.Kentucky has the fifth highest obesity rate in the nation.
The figures come from a new report by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The latest data show that 34.6 percent of Kentucky’s adults were obese in 2015. Kentucky had the third-highest rate of obese whites, and the fifth-most African-Americans who were obese.
Only Kentucky and Kansas saw an increased rate of adult obesity. Four states saw a decrease, and the rest were stable.
The report also found that 40 percent of Kentucky high school students spend three or more hours a day playing computer games. Nearly 26 percent spend that much time each day watching television.
Here's how some other states in our region fared in terms of highest adult obesity rankings:
- Indiana (15)
- Tennessee (9)
- Ohio (tied for 26)
- Missouri (tied for 10)
- West Virginia (tied for 2)
