Not a single U.S. state showed significant statistical improvement in obesity rates during the past year, according to a new report.
The 15th annual State of Obesity report showed that seven U.S. states held adult obesity rates above the 35 percent mark in 2017, up from five states in 2016.
For the first time, Iowa and Oklahoma were among the states with adult obesity rates above 35 percent, while Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia were among the over-35-percent category for at least the second time, said the report released by nonprofit organizations Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation earlier this week.
Iowa, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and South Carolina saw their adult obesity rates increase significantly between 2016 and 2017, the report added.
"Obesity is a complex and often intractable problem and America's obesity epidemic continues to have serious health and cost consequences for individuals, their families and our nation," said John Auerbach, president and CEO of Trust for America's Health, in a statement.
"The good news is that there is growing evidence that certain prevention programs can reverse these trends. But we won't see meaningful declines in state and national obesity rates until they are implemented throughout the nation and receive sustained support," Auerbach added.
In 2015-2016, 18.5 percent of children and 39.6 percent of adults were obese, the highest rates ever documented by National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
There were no statistically significant changes in youth or adult rates when compared with the 2013-2014 data, but rates have increased significantly since 1999-2000, when 13.9 percent of children and 30.5 percent of adults were obese.
Ethnic and geographic disparities in obesity remain striking, said the report, adding that the Black and Latino communities continued to have higher obesity rates than Whites and Asians.
To reduce levels of obesity among children and adults, the report called for a renewed commitment to prevention policies, programs and continued innovation at both state and local levels.
Effective obesity prevention efforts also require substantial investment, it said.
