Bad news all around: obesity rates are still climbing in several states, and the rates of obesity did not decline at all in any states over the past year. This is bad news as Obama and the new administration attempt to overhaul the faltering (and failing) US health care system. 

Our population is aging, and as baby boomers start reaching the "senior" category, health bills may skyrocket due to the obesity epidemic. The rate of obesity is highest amongst the oldest baby boomers, those aged 55 to 64, than among our elders aged 65 and older. In states such as Alabama, which has one of the highest rates of obesity, almost 39% of the oldest baby boomers are obese. This means that Medicare will take a massive hit once these boomers are eligible for Medicare.

Someone once (cynically) wrote that the obese would save health care dollars by dying sooner from obesity-related illness; however, that has not been shown to be the case. Obese people live almost as long as those who are not obese, but are troubled by more health problems, requiring from $1000 to $6000 more per year in health care spending each.

How do the states rank? Which states have the most obese people? Here are the leaders in obesity by state:

Mississipi

Alabama

West Virginia

Tennessee

Mississippi has the dubious distinction of also having the highest rate of obesity amongst children (44.4%), followed by Arkansas and Georgia.

Obesity is defined as having a BMI (body mass index) higher than 30.

Related Links:

Video: The Obesity Epidemic from Health Guru

Video: Consequences of Obesity from Health Guru

Factors that Contribute to High Blood Pressure from the American Heart Association