Missouri Bicycle News

Fat tires--our preferred type of "fat"

Missouri has adult obesity rates of 25.2 percent, ranking it the 14th heaviest in the nation, according to a new report by Trust for America's Health (TFAH). The report, F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America, 2006, finds that government policy efforts have consistently failed to provide viable solutions to the growing obesity crisis.

The state is one of 31 states where obesity rates rose in the past year. . . .

Missouri ranks 23rd in the nation for adult diabetes levels, at 7.3 percent, and ranks 15th for rates of hypertension at 27.1 percent.

"The bad news is that not enough progress has been made in the past year, and America's obesity epidemic continues to get worse," said Jeff Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH. "Quick fixes and limited government programs have failed to stem the tide. The 'fad diet' approach does not work for individuals, and it's not going to work for our nation's obesity crisis either. Government must step up and provide sustainable funding for sound, long-term policies that produce significant results."