CT's Ranking On Fattest States Study May Shock You

Obesity might be the new normal in America, but Connecticut is one of the thinnest states in the country. The state ranks 48th in WalletHub's "Fattest States in America" study.

The state is only bested by Massachusetts, Colorado, and Utah.

Connecticut is bucking the national trend. 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, WalletHub reported.

These figures have risen drastically in recent decades, especially among children and adolescents. One major factor is lack of physical activity, with a study by the Physical Activity Council finding that 82.1 million American age 6 and older were completely inactive in 2018.

This has drastic economic consequences as well: the country spends $200 billion per year on obesity-related health care costs.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, which is one of the leading health care costs associated with obesity. According to the study, the average diabetes patient spends $9601 annually on health care, 2.3 times more than the average patient. This disease is also correlated with a significant reduction in average lifespan, up to 18 years among male patients with type 1 diabetes.

However, the problem is more significant in some states than others. "To determine where obesity and overweight most dangerously persist," the study reads, "WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 29 key metrics. Our data set ranges from share of obese and overweight population to sugary-beverage consumption among adolescents to obesity-related health care costs. "

Here are the top ten fattest states according to the study:

1. Mississippi
2. West Virginia
3. Kentucky
4. Tennessee
5. Alabama
6. Oklahoma
7. Louisiana
8. Arkansas
9. Delaware
10. Ohio

To find out more, go to WalletHub's site.