Report: Youth Obesity Prevalent In The Tri-State

According to a new report, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky have some of the highest youth obesity rates in the nation.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – New data shows there aren’t many states with more obese kids than Indiana. 

According to data released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Indiana has the 11th highest youth obesity rate in the nation.

Over 17 percent of Hoosier children aged 10 to 17 are considered obese. Over 16 percent of those children were white, while over 28 percent were Hispanic.

Jamie Bussel from The State of Obesity report says these disparities are seen consistently across the nation and more than half of today’s children will be obese by age 35 if the trend continues.

Bussell added that children who are overweight are more likely to have chronic illnesses later in life.

“These new data show that nearly one in six young people in our country have obesity,” said Bussel. “That puts them at greater risk for condition such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.”

Locally, Kentucky takes the cake for the highest youth obesity rate. The Commonwealth ranks 3rd nationally, followed by Ohio at 6th overall.  

Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana and Oklahoma round out the top 5 states with the highest youth obesity rates.

Utah had the lowest youth obesity rate, followed by New Hampshire, Washington, Minnesota, and Wyoming.

The full research brief can be found on the State of Obesity website.