Obesity increased in nearly half of all US states last year, CDC

The federal government reports an increase in the obesity in almost half of U.S. states.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows an increase in 22 states.

The agency is defining obesity based on high body mass index, or BMI, numbers. A person with a score of 30 or higher is considered obese, according to the index.  

The 2022 data was obtained by the agency's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which conducted telephone interviews along with state health departments. 

According to the data, states in the Midwest had the highest prevalence of obesity at 35.8%. States in the south had a prevalence of obesity at 35.6%.

The agency says obesity is a multi-faceted program that cannot be address with one simple solution.

“Obesity is a disease caused by many factors, including eating patterns, physical activity levels, sleep routines, genetics, and certain medications. This means that there is no one size fits all approach,” Dr. Karen Hacker, director of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, told CNN.