The American Medical Association defines obesity as a disease. That means 35.7 percent of Americans -- those with BMIs over 30 -- are considered ill.
That's a lot of sick people.
Whether you agree with the AMA's decision or not, it underscores the gravity of the condition. The World Health Organization even considers it a global epidemic.
Worldwide, the relationship between wealth and obesity follows a positive trend: as wealth goes up, so too does obesity, according to Dr. James A. Levine of the Mayo Clinic.
In keeping with this trend, the United States is the wealthiest country in the world, and one of the most obese, at no. 18 out of 230 in obesity.
Within the United States, however, this relationship flips. Counties with lower average incomes tend to see higher rates of obesity. Though this obesity-income relationship seems quite paradoxical, explanations for it exist.
Lack of access to nutritious food and outdoor space for exercise are two of the more popular theories.
[For more of this story, written by Sabrina Graphiq, go to http://www.mercurynews.com/hea...ity-rate-every-state]
Comments (0)