As Holidays Near, New Study Ranks States with Weight Problems

As the holidays approach, with all the yummy meals and treats that they entail, a new report from WalletHub suggests that being mindful might be a good idea.

Three-quarters of adult Americans are overweight or obese.

The good news is that New Yorkers are more likely to be less fat, according to WalletHub’s new ranking of states. New York ranks 35th in the list of 50 states plus the District of Columbia.

The states with the biggest weight problems: Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia, Tennessee and South Carolina.

The states with the smallest weight problems: Hawaii, Colorado, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Utah.

WalletHub looked at children as well as adults, and considered key metrics including sugary-beverage consumption among adolescents.

“Prevention needs to be the focus,” said Lisa Sasson, a clinical associate professor at New York University, one of the experts interviewed by WalletHub for info and tips. “It is very difficult to treat obesity.”

But being mindful doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a Thanksgiving feast or Christmas cheer.

New statistics published by the Physical Activity Council suggest a need for more aggressive efforts to combat the issue -- A sedentary lifestyle, or lack of physical activity, is one of the leading causes of obesity in addition to other factors such as genetics, emotional instability and lack of sleep, WalletHub reports.

So getting enough exercise during the next few months is key.

Read the entire WalletHub study here.