CT second lowest state in obesity rates

In 2007 to 2009, CT ranked behind only Colorado in the lowest rate of obesity among adults according to a new report by the Trust for America’s Health. The bad news is that obesity affects one in five state adult residents (21.4%) and is up 9% from 2006-2008. And the news just gets worse -- more than half of CT adults are either overweight or obese, and 21% of us are physically inactive. The future doesn’t look much better -- 12.5% of CT children ages 10 to 17 are obese and only 22% are vigorously active every day. The rate of obesity among CT black adults was 65% higher than for whites, but Latinos in CT were only slightly more likely to be obese than whites. Black women in CT had the highest rates of obesity at 38%. CT ranks pretty well in setting healthy school policies; we regulate food in schools, set standards for physical education, require health education and have farm to school programs. However, the state does not collect weight data on students. CT has some child care regulations in place about physical activity and healthy eating for children but is lacking many protections, especially for home day care centers.
Ellen Andrews