California Is Eighth-Least Obese State in the U.S., Gallup Poll Finds

California is the eighth-least obese state in the U.S., with an obesity rate of 23.6%, according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday, the Sacramento Business Journal reports (Brown, Sacramento Business Journal, 3/4).

For the report, researchers conducted telephone interviews with 178,072 adults between Jan. 2, 2013, and Dec. 29, 2013, as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey (Gallup poll, 3/4).

Gallup Poll Findings

Overall, the obesity rate in the U.S. increased from 26.2% in 2012 to 27.1% in 2013 (Sacramento Business Journal, 3/4).

California is one of just four states that have consistently ranked in the top 10 least-obese states since Gallup began conducting the poll in 2008, according to the report (Waxman, Time, 3/4).

Among the top 10 least-obese states:

• Cancer rates averaged 7.6%, compared with 7.8% in the 10 most-obese states;
• Depression rates averaged 16.6%, compared with 20.7% in the 10 most-obese states;
• Diabetes rates averaged 9.6%, compared with 14.3% in the 10 most-obese states;
• Heart attack rates averaged 3.5%, compared with 5% in the 10 most-obese states;
• High blood pressure rates averaged 26.4%, compared with 35.8% in the 10 most-obese states; and
• High cholesterol rates averaged 23.2%, compared with 28.2% in the 10 most-obese states.

In addition:

• An average of 66.7% of respondents from the 10 least-obese states reported eating healthfully the entire day before the interview; and
• About 56% reported exercising for at least 30 minutes daily at least three times a week.

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James Pope, senior vice president and chief science officer at Healthways, said, "Research has shown that the average health care costs for an obese individual are over $1,300 more annually than someone who is not obese."

Pope added, "Although slowing and even reversing this trend may seem daunting, even modest weight loss of 5% to 10% of initial body weight can lower the health risks associated with obesity" (Gallup poll, 3/4).