Kentucky Ranks Among Top Three Most Obese States in America

The state of Kentucky just found itself way too high on a list that isn't too flattering.

We live in a world now where most people are more health conscious than they were twenty years ago, and for good reason. We only get one life, one body. It's best to take care of it the best you can. This is especially true when it comes to the food that we eat. Now look, I'll be the first to admit that fried food and Hamburger Helper are delicious, and I eat more of it than I probably should. The older I get, the more I realize that I can't eat like I used to back in the day. It used to be, that I could eat all of that food that I wanted and not gain a pound. Now, it seems like I eat it once in a blue moon and I gain five pounds. That's where obesity kicks in.

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A recent study from Wallet Hub says that 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. That's a pretty high number. Obesity ranks as the second most significant preventable cause of death after smoking. That's pretty scary. As hard as it is to give up some of your favorite foods, it might be a wise decision for you in the long run. I think we all know the dangers that come with obesity, and they're not good. Wallet Hub recently did a study on the most obese states in America. When it comes to Kentucky, the news isn't good.

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Where Does Kentucky Rank Among the Most Obese States in America?

Before we answer that question, it's first important to note how Wallet Hub came to their findings:

To determine where obesity and overweight most dangerously persist, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the share of obese and overweight population to sugary-beverage consumption among adolescents to obesity-related health care costs.

Now that we've covered that, let's talk about Kentucky. The Commonwealth found itself as the number three most obese state in the country. That's not good. Here's what Wallet Hub found when it comes to Kentucky:

<p>Around 33% of adults in Kentucky are simply overweight, and an additional 37.8% are obese. The Bluegrass State also has the second highest share of obese children in the nation, despite having decent school nutrition policies.</p><p>Fewer than half of Kentuckians have a healthy food retailer close to them, which explains why a significant portion of adults go more than a day in between consuming fruit (45.1%) and vegetables (19.5%). Around a quarter of adults are physically inactive, too.</p>

You can check out the full results by clicking here.

Again, this isn't where the state wants to find itself on this list. Some lifestyle changes could not only put Kentucky in a better position, as well as putting each individual in a healthier state. Now, I'm not saying that I'll stop eating Hamburger Helper or Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes altogether, but over the past couple of years, I have cut back drastically and have noticed a big difference in my weight. I'm also not one to tell anyone how to live their life. However, it's pretty much understood that cutting out some of those unhealthy foods from your daily life will lead to a healthier lifestyle. The choice is ultimately yours.