More than one-third of U.S. adults are obese. That’s about 78.6 million people or 34.9 percent of the population older than 18. Oklahoma’s obesity rate is nearly as high at 33 percent. The state has the nation’s sixth highest rate of obesity.
Obesity is associated with several chronic diseases. These include diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and some types of cancers. The nation spends an estimated $147 billion annually on health care related to obesity, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
As Oklahoma’s obesity rate has crept up over the years, so have the state’s bills for caring for those with the condition. The following graphic shows some of the consequences of Oklahoma’s high rate of obesity.
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