WalletHub: R.I. 12th lowest on fattest states list

RHODE ISLAND comes in at No. 40 in a WalletHub list of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. that determined where weight problems are the most prevalent. Mississippi is the state with the biggest weight problem, it said. / COURTESY WALLETHUB
RHODE ISLAND comes in at No. 40 in a WalletHub list of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. that determined where weight problems are the most prevalent. Mississippi is the state with the biggest weight problem, it said. / COURTESY WALLETHUB

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island is not one of the fattest states in America.
In fact, the Ocean State comes in at No. 40 in a WalletHub list of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., that said where weight problems are the most prevalent.
The No. 1 state with the biggest weight problem? Mississippi.
Mississippi also held the top spot in the subcategory of obesity and overweight prevalence. In the subcategory of unhealthy habits and consequences, West Virginia was first.
The state with the smallest weight problem? Hawaii, at No. 51.
But in the subcategory of obesity and overweight prevalence, Colorado beat out Hawaii, and in unhealthy habits and consequences, Connecticut grabbed the top spot. Rhode Island was fifth healthiest when it comes to unhealthy habits and consequences.
Rhode Island, however, was fourth in a list featuring the highest percentage of adults who are overweight, behind only Nevada, Alaska and Connecticut.
To come up with its findings, just in time for the traditionally hearty-eating holiday season, WalletHub looked at the percentage of overweight and obese adults and children, sugary-beverage consumption among adolescents, percentage of residents with high cholesterol or diabetes, and death rate due to obesity, among other factors.
The personal finance website said that in the past two decades, America’s weight problem has “grown dramatically, inspiring a surge of new programs and products designed to promote better health and help Americans shed the extra pounds.”
Citing statistics from the Physical Activity Council, it said that last year, nearly 83 million Americans were completely inactive, the highest number reported since 2007.
“A sedentary lifestyle, or lack of physical activity, is one of the leading causes of obesity in addition to other factors such as genetics, emotional instability and lack of sleep,” WalletHub said.

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