The Director for the Arizona Department of Health Services touted this week a new report from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) that shows 29.5 percent of Arizona adults are obese, making it 34th in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.
“We are tied with Alaska and Nevada at that ranking. Nine states have adult obesity rates above 35 percent in 2018, up from seven states at that level in 2017. Arizona’s number remained the same as last year’s figure (29.5%),” wrote Dr. Cara Christ, Director for the Arizona Department of Health Services. “While I was pleased to see that Arizona has a lower level of obesity among adults than many other states, obesity rates remain alarmingly high.”
“Obesity prevention efforts throughout the state are contributing to our obesity rates not increasing, but there is much more to be done. In the Arizona Health Improvement Plan: Healthy People, Healthy Communities 2016-2020 we have a specific goal of increasing the number of people who are at a healthy weight,” continued Christ. “ADHS is committed to four key strategies to make this happen including making affordable and healthy foods more accessible, increasing physical activity, incorporating obesity prevention and treatment into medical care, and empowering all Arizonans to adopt a healthy lifestyle.”
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