The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report, “U.S. Obesity Trends 1985-2006.” It is really quite shocking! During the last 15 of the 20 year period, average obesity rates per capita have risen about 5% every five years. Scary!

You can find a nice summary of the data here.

The original data, including a link to a PowerPoint presentation you can download, is available here.

Apparently the mountain states, the New England states, and Florida have the lowest obesity rates. The midwest and southern states have the worst. But every state is slipping. The healthiest states in 2006 have obesity rates as bad as the most obese states had in 1991!