Obesity in Florida: Where Does the Sunshine State Rank?

Florida isn't putting on extra weight, according to the latest obesity rates released by the Centers for Disease Control. But improvements in other states have pushed Florida down from its position among the fittest.

The state is now ranked No. 37 in obesity prevalence, with 26.8 percent of the state thought to be obese. That's up from 26.2 percent last year, when Florida was ranked No. 46.

The CDC releases annual obesity rates each September based on larger, self-reported surveys on behavioral risk factors. In every state, at least one in five adults is obese. Colorado has the least, at 20.2 percent. Louisiana is at the top of the list with 36.2 percent.

People who are obese are at a higher risk of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea and some forms of cancer, as well as other health issues. Medical care costs related to obesity have reached more than $190 billion a year, according to a 2012 study in the Journal of Health Economics.

Ranked eighth in obesity in 2015, Ohio fell to No. 28 in the latest ranking and dropped nearly 3 percent in the obesity rate to 29.8 percent. Montana, Utah, New York and Minnesota also saw notable improvements in the year-over-year obesity rates.

The CDC provides additional funding to most states to improve access to healthy foods and increase outreach on the importance of physical activity. In Florida, the CDC spent more than $525,000 in the last fiscal year to address obesity in the state.

The money has been used to promote Healthiest Weight Florida and the farmers market finder at Florida's Roadmap to Living Healthy, as well as other education programs.

The CDC also provides $1.7 million annually for college and university programs that reduce obesity and boost prevention in communities with the highest obesity rates.

"Efforts are needed to combat the prevalence of obesity in areas where the problem is the worst, particularly rural areas," the CDC noted in the latest call for grant funding applications in August. "There is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach that works for rural communities in regards to health initiatives."

Rankings of self-reported obesity prevalence, according to the CDC survey:

1. Louisiana, 36.2
2. Alabama, 35.6
3. Mississippi, 35.6
4. West Virginia, 35.6
5. Kentucky, 34.6
6. Arkansas, 34.5
7. Kansas, 34.2
8. Oklahoma, 33.9
9. Tennessee, 33.8
10. Missouri, 32.4
11. Texas, 32.4
12. Iowa, 32.1
13. South Carolina, 31.7
14. Guam, 31.6
15. Nebraska, 31.4
16. Indiana, 31.3
17. Michigan, 31.2
18. North Dakota, 31
19. Illinois, 30.8
20. Georgia, 30.7
21. Wisconsin, 30.7
22. South Dakota, 30.4
23. North Carolina, 30.1
24. Oregon, 30.1
25. Maine, 30
26. Pennsylvania, 30
27. Alaska, 29.8
28. Ohio, 29.8
29. Delaware, 29.7
30. Puerto Rico, 29.5
31. Virginia, 29.2
32. Wyoming, 29
33. Maryland, 28.9
34. New Mexico, 28.8
35. Idaho, 28.6
36. Arizona, 28.4
37. Florida, 26.8
38. Nevada, 26.7
39. Washington, 26.4
40. New Hampshire, 26.3
41. Minnesota, 26.1
42. Rhode Island, 26
43. New Jersey, 25.6
44. Connecticut, 25.3
45. Vermont, 25.1
46. New York, 25
47. Utah, 24.5
48. Massachusetts, 24.3
49. California, 24.2
50. Montana, 23.6
51. Hawaii, 22.7
52. District of Columbia, 22.1
53. Colorado, 20.2

Photo provided by CDC/ Debora Cartagena