Aug. 16--Kentucky ranks fourth in the national obesity rate, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The agency listed the commonwealth behind Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee in the prevalence of obesity in 2009.
The percentage of obese population in Mississippi is 34.4, followed by Louisiana at 33 percent, Tennessee 32.3 and Kentucky 31.5.
Officials said that if the numbers keep going up, more people will get sick and die from the complications of obesity, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.
"Part of it is that a lot of us aren't getting the activity we need because of our busy schedule," said Beth Cecil, wellness dietitian with the Owensboro Medical Health System's HealthPark. "We grab convenience foods, which tend to be higher in fat and calories."
Kentucky's obesity rate has gradually gotten worse. From 2000 to 2003, the state fell between the 20 to 24 percent range. From 2004 to 2008, it moved into the 25 to 29 percent range.
Now, there are nine states with obesity rates of 30 percent or more. They are Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia. The majority are Southern states.
"I guess we just like to eat," Cecil said. "Our southern cooking style is to add bacon fat. I wonder if that's a factor. We typically use more fat, which equals more calories."
Body-mass index is calculated from height and weight.
For example, a woman 5 feet 4 inches tall is obese if she weighs 174 pounds or more, and a man 5 feet 10 inches tall is obese if he weighs 209 or more. Both would have a BMI of 30, and scores of 30 or over are defined as obese.
Cecil said advertising also plays a part in affecting attitudes. She said "megaburgers" and tasty ice cream treats are high in fat and calories and look so inviting in ads.
Only Colorado and Washington, D.C., had obesity rates under 20 percent. Colorado has spent money from a state lottery on biking and walking trails. The state seems to have a culture of physical activity.
Washington, D.C., like many big cities, has a large percentage of its population using public transportation, and those people usually walk more to and from bus stops and subway stations.
"It's hard for people to change," Cecil said. "Look how long it took us to realize how bad smoking was bad for us.
"It really takes a big commitment to cut down on eating and exercising more. In a fast-paced world, we want fast results, but you're not going to lose 10 pounds by next week."
Rich Suwanski, 691-7315, rsuwanski@messenger-inquirer.com
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