Maryland Is Fatter Than 24 Other States: Report

Maryland is in the middle of the pack when it comes to weight in America. Routinely, the U.S. ranks at or near the top when it comes to the most obese countries in the world, and Maryland ranks 26th in the country in obesity rate, according to the financial news and opinion site 24/7 Wall St., which reviewed federal health data.

Nationwide, about 35 percent of adults can be classified as overweight and another 30 percent are obese, the report said. The obesity rate today is twice what it was in the 1980s nationally, and obesity is now considered the second leading cause of premature death in the U.S.

Here's the breakdown for obesity in Maryland:

• Adult obesity rate: 29.9 percent
• Adults overweight and obese: 64.6 percent (20th smallest)
• Adults who do not exercise: 23.1 percent (23rd smallest)
• Premature deaths per 100,000 residents: 326.4 (22nd lowest)

According to the Mayo Clinic, obesity is diagnosed when a person's body mass index, or BMI, is 30 or higher. BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal while a score of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. Anything past that is deemed obese, with varying levels.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2016 obesity rates in every state as calculated by the Centers for Disease Control.

The South had nine of the 10 steepest obesity rates, the authors found. West Virginia was deemed the most obese state, with a rate of 37.7 percent. Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and Louisiana rounded out the top five.

Here were the most obese states, based on the report:

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

On the flip side, low obesity rates could be found across the country, particularly in the Rocky Mountains region, the Northeast and the West coast. Colorado was found to be the least obese state with a rate of 22.3 percent. Massachusetts, Hawaii, California and Utah followed closely behind.

Overall, most Americans are either overweight or obese, the report said. This could be problematic; an excessive amount of body fat is more than simply "a cosmetic concern," according to the Mayo Clinic.

"It increases your risk of diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure," the organization says on its website. Being extremely obese means you are particularly likely to have weight-related health problems, the agency added.

Furthermore, a National Institute of Health study found that life expectancy for an obese person is on average 14 years shorter than it is for someone with a healthier body mass. Even modest weight loss can improve or prevent such outcomes, and the agency suggests dietary changes, increased physical activity and behavioral changes to lose weight. Other options could be prescription drugs and weight-loss surgery.

Click here to read the full report.

Patch reporter Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

Photo credit: Suzanne Tucker/Shutterstock