New Mexico: Land of Obesity

If you get the idea that there are a lot of tubbos in New Mexico, don't worry, you're not imagining things. New Mexico is one of the fattest states in the nation, according to a new report by WalletHub.

How fat?

The 20th fattest state.

New Mexico has a high rate of overweight and obese adults, teenagers and children, and it scores high for elevated levels of cholesterol and the percentage of people with heart disease.

The state also scored high in WalletHub's “Food and fitness” category, which means we rank high in the number of fast food restaurants per capita and in the number of physically inactive adults.

“Fat,” WalletHub said, “is becoming the new normal in America. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than seven in 10 U.S. adults aged 20 and older are either overweight or obese. Rates are lower for children and adolescents but have risen steadily almost every year. So prevalent has America’s obesity problem grown that the weight-loss industry continues to expand. This year, Americans are expected to spend more than $68 billion just on programs designed to help them shed the extra pounds. The U.S. spends in total nearly $200 billion in annual health care costs related to obesity."

Colorado is the skinniest state, and – probably no surprise here – Mississippi is the fattest.