Minnesota’s obesity rate is shrinking.
The state Health Department says there was a “significant” drop in adult obesity between 2014 and 2015 and Minnesota was the only state in the region–including the Dakotas, Wisconsin and Iowa to keep its obesity rates below 30-percent. The findings are compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and based on self-reported information from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger says achieving healthy weight is a key goal for the department and “by working together we’ve been able to increase opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity for all Minnesotans in every corner of the state.”
Obesity rates have been shown to have a major impact on health care costs for related diseases like diabetes.